The Plague
There is a plague of sin that has gone out among God’s people. This story out of Numbers does not relate a story concerning the heathen nations around Israel, but God’s chosen. If we are to see the plague among us stay in this hour, we as the priests of God must return to the door. In reality, it must start with the leadership because when Moses and Aaron returned, the plague was stayed. Preacher, it’s time for YOU to come back to the CROSS and preach Christ Crucified!
By Chris McDonald
TEXT: Numbers 16:45-50 - Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces. And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun. [47] And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. [48] And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. [49] Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah. [50] And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.
The church must return to Her source of power – the cross of Christ. It’s that simple. There is a plague gone out among our people today. Many will be quick to say yes, America is a sinful nation and in many ways they would be right in saying that. America’s sin is not the more serious problem facing us in this fateful hour before Yeshua returns to Earth for the church. The problem is that we in the church have refused to admit that the same plague going out among those in the nation is going out among OUR people – the children of God – as well.
When Paul was writing his second letter to Timothy he warned the young evangelist that in the last days, perilous times would come upon the earth AND the church.
2 Tim. 3:1-8
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. [6] For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, [7] Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. [8] Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
He described some horrific things that would begin to take place just prior to the return of Yeshua – men would be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; boastful, proud, blasphemers, arrogant, unruly, without natural affection, traitors, heady (arrogant), high-minded (boastful), unholy, covenant breakers and many would deny the power of God.
Paul was not talking about conditions that would take place in the world at large. Those things already were taking place in the world as Paul knew it. The world cannot deny the power of God – the world is BLIND to spiritual things. The world system is an enemy of God but it doesn’t understand the things of God. No, the world cannot have a form of godliness yet deny God's power – but an apostate church system CAN! A group of people who claim to know God yet have gone astray from Him - CAN!
Rome, during Paul’s day, had become one of the greatest empires on the face of the earth. It’s rule and dominion had reached from sea to sea figuratively speaking. No other empire up to that time had such influence on the world’s culture as far as its scope and landmass. But Rome was rotting from inside. The empire embraced heathen gods and allowed sexual immorality to rule and reign unchecked throughout from the beginning of its origin. As a result the empire crumbled from within as a result of sin – as do ALL empires do. As the Psalmist wrote, “Righteousness exalts a nation but SIN is a reproach to many peoples.” ( Psalms 14) Friend that was true then and it’s true today.
So the things Paul wrote about were things already happening in the world of his day. What he saw was a coming apostasy where a corporate group of people in the Body of Christ would literally depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. He saw a time when men would draw to themselves preachers who would “tickle their ears,” with a gospel that would require NOTHING of them. He saw a gospel coming that would do little to change people’s hearts or convict them of their sin. It would be what he termed "another gospel." It's a gospel that is sending millions to hell today.
There is another gospel being preached today that is not a bible-based gospel. The church is chasing after "another spirit" and as a result offering strange "fire" before the Lord with our worldly worship and ungodly attachments to entertainment. That’s the focus and mission of the church – make ourselves “user-friendly” as one mega-church in Illinois loves to put it. We are no longer seeking to change the world around us. We so want to become like the world today in church. We say we do that in order to win the world to our way of thinking but that is a recipe for millions of souls winding up in a devils burning hell. That may sound blunt but it is true. We will NEVER get the world to "come over" to our way of thinking. It's wicked and will remain wicked till Jesus comes. There is no hope for this world today except to the individual who calls on Jesus Christ to be saved. There is no longer a corporate call going out today in the earth - it's a individual unction of the Holy Ghost to those who will listen.
We no longer worry about sinner’s condition. We only worry about the number in the pews and/or the amount in the offering plate. And while we play our religious games, there’s a plague among us and people are dying by the millions. Sin kills today. It has always killed. For some unknown reason though we have stopped warning people about the plague among us and the wrath of the Lord against willful and unrepentant sin.
Not too terribly long after the events of September 11, 2001 a few major evangelical voices decried that the destruction to America was a direct result of abortion and homosexuality in our country. At first glance these statements were right on target. I myself have stated and still feel that America has a payday coming for her sin. More than just that I believe America’s sin has been more grievous because it’s been against LIGHT. To whom MUCH is given MUCH is required. We have been given MUCH in this nation – unlike ANY other nation on the face of the earth. We are the only superpower in the world today and will be the last one before the kingdom of Antichrist during the Great Tribulation.
But as this past year has elapsed and I’ve had time to reflect more on my own personal walk with the Lord I’ve realized more than ever during 2002 that the shoe need not fall on the homosexuals or abortionists. It needs to fall on US IN THE CHURCH!! It was not the abortionists or the homosexuals who brought judgment on America – it was the group of people where judgment ALWAYS starts with – THE CHURCH!
I want to state that again. The attacks of September 11, 2001 need NOT be laid at the foot of the abortionists, as bad and as wicked as abortion is. The attacks of 9-11 need NOT be laid at the foot of the homosexual community in America as wicked, degrading and horrible as homosexuality and sodomy is. No, when God judges a certain nation, His judgment never starts with the heathen, it always starts with the RIGHTEOUS. It was the case in Israel’s day. The 10 spies who caused Israel not to believe were NOT Egyptian sorcerers and heathen idolaters. These were men who had witnessed God's power in Egypt. God allowed Egyptians idolatry to continue for thousands of years. Israel builds one golden calf after the Exodus and 250,000 people die. Egypt keeps Israel in slavery for 430 years, God allows it to continue for that long without moving. Israel comes to the Promised Land and says "we can't go in," and God sentences an entire generation to wonder for 40 years until they all die. Get the picture?
The apostle Peter wrote it as bluntly as one could put it. Judgment must begin at the HOUSE OF GOD! And if judgment begins with us – who are scarcely saved – WHAT SHALL THE END BE of those who do not believe the gospel of God?
1 Pet 4:17-19
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begins at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Peter said the TIME IS COME that judgment must begin with US. Jerry Falwell’s big push during the early 1980s was to form what he called a “moral majority.” This group of evangelicals was gathered together to sway future elections of presidents and eventually put a Christian man in the White House. During this process the group’s “catch” phrase was “We’re (referring to the church) going to clean up America and make America right again.” What he should have said is “WE’RE (THE CHURCH) ARE GOING TO CLEAN UP,” and put the PERIOD at the end of that statement. When the church gets right, America will get right. When the church returns to her power – the cross – America will get right. When the church has revival, America will have revival. When the church gets on fire for God again – AMERICA will get on fire for GOD!
There’s a PLAGUE among us and the wrath of the Lord has gone out because we have forsaken the way of God. We have drifted into apostasy with our doctrines and teaching and led men astray to a lifeless void of heresy and oblivion with our preaching. We have become voices in this hour – not for the Risen CHRIST – but for the prosperity message that tells people that they are only blessed people if they are wealthy people with bundles and bundles of money. I heard one preacher just this week say “for those of you who don’t believe in this positive confession message I don’t want to be around you because that’s the ONLY message we have today.” I TEND TO DIFFER WITH YOU SIR!
The only message we have today that will set captives free is not that they will have a $1 million in the bank if they come to Jesus. It’s the old time gospel message that one day 2,000 years ago Jesus Christ went to a hill called Golgotha, he hung between heaven and earth, spread his hands before heaven and as Aaron did so long ago – “stand between the dead and the living,” and delivered man from something more powerful than AIDS as He broke the chains and shackles and the bondages of sin. Oh Glory TO GOD. Can you feel that? Preacher you’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing if you're not preaching Christ and Him crucified. You're a FALSE prophet if you are not preaching the cross. You are a hireling if you are not preaching the power of the cross of Christ to your people. If you have abandoned this message for another message – you are preaching "another gospel" and Paul declared in Galatians – “LET HIM BE ACCURSED,” who comes preaching another Jesus. To use south Georgia English - that means "LET HIM BE DAMNED." Blunt isn't it? It needs to get blunt with the sorry preaching we have going on today. Church has become nothing more than a glorified pep rally while there’s a PLAGUE among us today and men are dying around us.
Let me tell you this without blinking. I’ve never been worried so much about the chances of the drunk on the street corner or the drug addict pushing cocaine in the back alleys of Knoxville getting saved. Most of them when convicted by the Holy Spirit probably will come to Jesus and become great men and women of God. Most of those who are in that condition RECOGNIZE the fact they need God. They are hurting and in need. They have no pride left. They can be used by God!!!!!
The people I’m the MOST concerned about are the people (millions) who sit on our church pews Sunday to Sunday and hear nothing but a book report from the men behind the pulpit instead of hearing something that will set them free from sin and change their heart and change their LIFE!
There are millions of Christians right now as I write this who claim to have been born again yet they have the plague of SIN reigning in their life and never think sir, that just because you are a Christian you can sin without punishment. If anything you are at greater risk of God’s chastening because you’re HIS CHILD. What He allows the heathen to get away with (at least it seems they are getting away with it) He doesn’t allow YOU to get away with. WHY? Because you are and have been BOUGHT with a price, (1 Cor. 6:10) redeemed by the BLOOD of the Lamb of God. God is jealous and He is concerned about your heart just as He was concerned and grieved with the generation of Israelites that came out of Egypt so long ago. When they rebelled and sin, God’s anger waxed HOT.
1 Cor. 6:20 - For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
The Result Of The Plague On Israel - DEATH
As we continue our thoughts on this passage in Numbers, I want to take a look at the result of and the remedy for the plague that was among God’s people. The result of Israel’s sin THEN as it is TODAY was the same – DEATH. As the result of this plague nearly 14,700 Israelites DIED.
Numbers 16:49 - Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah
Some 14,700 people DIED in the plague caused by Korah’s rebellion and sin. Sin always brings DEATH. There is a RESULT of sin today just as it was then. We don’t hear much preaching about it anymore. We’ve exchanged messages about sin for messages about positive confession, prosperity and getting as much wealth as we can on this earth. But the message and warning of the gospel is crystal clear –the wages of sin are still DEATH!!!!!
Romans 6:23- For the wages of sin is DEATH, but the gift of God is eternal life.
The Bible speaks of death in a threefold way: physical, spiritual, and eternal. The first physical death of a human being recorded in the Bible is that of Abel, who was murdered by his brother Cain <Gen. 4:8>. However, death itself, in both the physical and spiritual sense, is first mentioned by God Himself <Gen. 2:17>.
Genesis 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In the Genesis account of the FALL both physical and spiritual death come as a result of sin <Rom. 5:12-21>.
Romans 5:12-21
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: [13] (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. [14] Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. [15] But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. [16] And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. [17] For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) [18] Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. [19] For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. [20] Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: [21] That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Israel’s rebellion carried a price. She didn’t really grasp that I don’t believe as a nation ever during her wilderness wanderings. And as we in the modern church wander in our darkness because we have rejected the LIGHT of the Messiah – we little understand the results of sin today as well. That’s why we try and treat sin like we do. We don’t treat it as a death sentence in an individual any more, we treat it as if we can put a band-aid on it and it will go away. Our church counselors are a band-aid. Our weekly cell groups are a band-aid. Our softball teams, youth hay-rides and get-togethers are band-aids. Our flippancy in the church is a band-aid to hide the decaying and crumbling souls among us.
There has never been a time in God’s economy – NEW or OLD – where Sin did not have a price. Under the Old Covenant the price was paid by innocent animals through the Levitical offerings. The sinner under the Old Covenant DIED without mercy under the law of Moses if he had failed to offer up a sacrifice for his sin. (Heb. 2:3-6) This took place for nearly 3,500 years prior to the Messiah coming to earth to be ransomed and offered up to God as THE final SIN OFFERING! Under the New Covenant SIN still brings the same result. Now we don’t bring an animal to the place of sacrifice (brazen altar), we confess our sins with our MOUTHS and repent of our sins in our HEART. By doing so, we appropriate the blood of THE LAMB, THE SACRIFICE, Messiah Jesus.
But never be deceived or deluded that we as Christians can sin and get by without penalty. God is not mocked. If we sow to our flesh, we WILL reap corruption! Sin brings judgment. ALL have sinned and come short of the GLORY of God the scripture says, And because "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" <Rom. 3:23>, all men are spiritually dead-- separated from God who is the Source of spiritual life. Sin makes a person hate the light and despise the truth; it causes one to break God's laws and to become insensitive to holy things. Everyone who has not been redeemed by Christ is spiritually dead <Luke 15:32; Eph. 2:1-3; Col. 2:13>.
Luke 15:32
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Ephes. 2:1-3
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; [2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience: [3] Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Col. 2:13-15
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; [14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; [15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
The Second Death
The Bible also speaks of "the second death" <Rev. 2:11>, which is eternal death, the everlasting separation of the lost from God in HELL. The "second death" is equated with "the lake of fire" <Rev. 20:14>, "the lake which burns with fire and brimstone... is the second death" <Rev. 21:8>.
Rev. 2:11
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit SAITH unto the churches; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev. 20:14
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev. 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
I am going to preach to you here for a few minutes. The church has stopped talking about HELL. Hell has become nothing more than a curse word on many people’s lips or used in jokes among Hollywood and comedians. Unfortunately, we in the church laugh right along with the world about this horrible place and it’s not a place to laugh about.
As I write this right now, I can’t help but wander what is happening to the millions of souls already there. The Bible tells us they are in eternal torment, “where the worm dieth not.” There are not any sounds of children laughing there. There are not any sounds of Sunday morning hymns there. There are not any sounds of the birds chirping in trees. There are not any sounds of godly men and women warning a backslidden generation of church-goers to make their hearts right with God. There are not any sounds of a praying mom or a praying dad there. There are no Christmas trees, presents or yuletide cheer there. They don't have a remote control in one hand and a beer in another on Sunday morning in hell. They don't get to make trips to grandma's house on the holidays any longer. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.
They do NONE of that in hell. They are eternally tormented in flames of burning hell fire that will never be quenched. They cry out in agony at the lost chances and choices of eternity they had while on earth. They thirst for just a cool dip of water on their lips. But neighbor, no water is coming. No relief is coming. Hell is eternal. Hell is real. Hell is a place for the unrepentant. Hell is a place for the sinner, not the saint. Hell is a place where liars go. Hell is a place where thieves go. Hell is a place where covenant breakers go. Hell is a place for the wicked. Hell is a place where the murderer goes. Hell is a place where the immoral and adulterer goes. Hell is a place where the lost go. And no matter how religious you may be, if you've never been truly born again - neighbor - it's where you're headed today.
There are memories of missed chances. There are literally thousands of regretful thoughts and remorseful moments when men, women, boys, girls all think back to their time on earth and probably see in their heart’s mind the chances they had to make things right with God. Many had talents the Lord gave them yet they used those talents for the world and Satan. Many had a call of God on their lives and they forsook that call for earthly pleasures. Many disobeyed God in their hearts, stole from the church, lied, carried on careless lives on earth, did things they KNEW were wrong in the sight of God yet never repented of those things before it was too late.
Many sat on church pews months after months, years after years and never felt a thing in our COLD DEAD DRIED churches. Many listened week after week to the preacher give a book report or read a 30-year old sermon outline without one ounce of unction from the Holy Ghost. Many sat on our pews preacher without ever hearing us warn them ONCE about this awful place. God help us. I can almost hear the screams right now. I can almost hear the cries right now. I can almost feel the anger that many have for the preacher or so-called man of God who told them their sin was ok and that God didn’t care how they lived as long as they had signed a membership card or was baptized.
Preacher let me tell you something. You may think that this HOLY GHOST “stuff” is just a bunch of nonsense and not for you or your people. Some of you reading this right now get up behind your pulpit Sunday after Sunday and lambaste the moving and operation of the Holy Ghost. You deny the supernatural of God to your people but in denying the supernatural power of God you are denying the Spirit's unction and power to convict as well. AND without HOLY GHOST conviction in our preaching, in our teaching, in our writing, in our singing and in our lives- MEN WILL DIE AND GO OUT INTO ETERNITY WITHOUT GOD and wind up in HELL! And their blood is going to be required of us preacher. Their blood is going to be required of us man of God. Their blood is going to be required of us woman of God. Their blood is going to be required of us. SIN HAS A RESULT and it’s DEATH. It’s eternal death.
Listen to me young person. You may be smoking that joint right now and thinking there is nothing bad going to happen to you. You may live foot loose and fancy free on this earth but there is coming a pay day one day. You're going to miss it. You're going to slip off into eternity without notice and remember these words I write to you.
Listen to me sir, yes you, who is cheating on his wife with another woman. Adulterers will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God. You may never get caught in this life but one day if you don’t repent of that sin and come back to God you will wind up in a place called hell.
Young man, young lady, your virtue is more precious than gold to God. You’re virtue is more precious than a million dollars. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Live for God while you are young. Don’t play a hypocrite or a fool. Be real for God. That boy who is telling you young lady he loves you and if you love him you'll have sex with him before marriage - he's lying to you. He don't love you. TRUE LOVE waits!!! TRUE LOVE is love that is birthed from God and it has GOD as its source of affection FIRST then the other people in our lives. Once you lose your virtue young lady you'll never get it back.
Sir, I’m talking to you. You lie and cheat in your business deals. God knows what you are doing and He sees things others can’t see. You may never be dealt with NOW but there is coming an eternal pay day.
Lady, you may think killing that baby is politically correct and legal in American society today, but in God’s eyes it’s called MURDER. And no murderer hath eternal life abiding in them! You will face eternal judgment one day unless you repent. Some of you are already paying a price - the nightmares, the remorse, the regret, the hurt. Some demonically inspired doctor told you there was nothing more to abortion than just a few moments of a procedure. But you're finding out that the effects are eternal. Jesus loves you ma'am. He don't condemn you but you must come to HIM and repent!!! You must come to HIM and repent! The blood of that baby is on your hands lady. The blood of that baby is on your hands DOCTOR! You will give account to God one day for the blood of that innocent baby. Hear me. Hear me backslidden church. Hear me backslidden man of God. PREACH THE CROSS. PREACH THE GOSPEL. PREACH THE CROSS. Tell men that their only hope for salvation is in the CROSS and nothing else. It's not in speaking in tongues, or prophecying as important and as wonderful as those things are - we are saved by the BLOOD! We are saved by the BLOOD!
Some of you reading this are watching dirty, filthy movies and they're bringing you into a life of sexual immorality and bondage. Friend, you are losing it as I write this. You need to repent; you need to repent. Some are you are spending your entire lives getting, getting, getting instead of allowing the Master to take your life and making it one of GIVING, GIVING, GIVING. Idolaters will not inherit the Kingdom of God and a covetous person is an idolater! Greed will send you to hell.
Ephes. 5:2-8
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. [3] But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes saints; [4] Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. [5] For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. [6] Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. [7] Be not ye therefore partakers with them. [8] For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
The Lord Jesus told a young rich man one night that all the goods in his barn was not going to be able to save him from that eternal hour. Jesus called him a FOOL and said “TONIGHT YOUR SOUL WILL BE REQUIRED OF THEE.” And friend, that moment is coming for ALL of us. No one can short-change eternity. No one can circumvent it or cheat it. Eternity calls to ALL at one time or the other. NO ONE IS EXEMPT. Death is coming mister. Death is coming lady. Death is coming young man, young woman - and then the judgment.
None will by pass it. None will get around it. There is no way out of it. There is no way to get out of this meeting with eternity. No way to send someone else in your place. No way to make an excuse why you can’t come. Eternity is real neighbor. And SIN HAS A RESULT. Sin has a result.
Luke 12:17-21
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
(KJV)
Some of you have unforgiveness in your heart and life to someone who has wronged you and it needs to be dealt with NOW before it is eternally too late. Too late, too late, too late - the cry of the damned souls in the pit of hell today.
Preacher, I plead with you today if you are reading this. Stop getting behind your pulpit preaching DEATH to your people. Stop telling people they’re ok with God when in reality they are en route to this horrible place. You are not the Holy Spirit preacher. You are not God. You cannot see inside a person’s heart. You cannot see the TRUE nature of their being. You may think you can but you can’t. That’s why your job is not to be the congregation’s tax advisor, investment counselor, golf buddy or sports ticker every Sunday. Your job is to get full of the Holy Ghost and preach this mighty gospel that Jesus saves, Jesus heals, Jesus baptizes in the Holy Ghost and Jesus is coming again. Jesus saves, Jesus heals, Jesus baptizes in the Holy Ghost and Jesus is coming again.
Preach the word Preacher, Preach the word. Preach it hot. Preach it hard. Preach that saints die and go to heaven but unrepentant sinners die and go to hell. I know the denomination you belong to is telling you to “make your churches user-friendly, we can’t offend anyone with this narrow preaching.” BUFFOOOONS. Imbeciles. SOULS are screaming in torment right now as a result of the shallow preaching of this generation. God help us.
The Remedy
Numbers 16:50 - And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed
In this narrative, there was not only a reason and a result of Israel’s rebellion – there was a remedy for the death. Israel’s remedy is the church’s remedy too. The remedy is the CROSS and the death of the old man. When Moses and Aaron returned to the DOOR of the tabernacle – the plague was stayed. The modern leadership of the 21rst Century church must also return to the DOOR of the tabernacle. What was at the door at the tabernacle where Moses and Aaron went? It was the brazen altar – the place of sacrifice. The brazen altar typified the CROSS.
When we say the cross of Christ, we are not leaving Jesus on the cross. Jesus has died, was buried and is ALIVE! His death has conquered the powers of darkness. His resurrection has sealed the deal! He is at the right hand of God right now interceding for us because of His finished work on the cross. Oh Praise God.
Paul wrote that through Yeshua’s resurrection, Jesus conquered death-- physical, spiritual, and eternal. Through fear of death, men are subject to bondage <Heb. 2:15>;
Hebrews 2:15
And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
He said to Timothy that "our Savior Jesus Christ... has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" <2 Tim. 1:10>.
2 Tim. 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
Paul shows that the consequences of Christ's obedience extend as far as Adam's disobedience. Gentiles are descendants of Adam and partake of his sin and its consequences, so they are free to partake of the redemption of Christ. This again puts the Gentiles on an equal basis with Jews in Adam, Abraham, and Christ. Sin is of universal effect. From Adam all people derive their beings (Acts 17:26). The whole race was in his loins when he sinned. He was its spiritual, moral, and physical fountainhead, and its sole representative. He did not act as a single person but as the whole race. When he fell he sinned for all. When God contracted with him, it was a contract for the whole race. His progeny became a part of the covenant and blessings if he obeyed, and of the curses if he sinned.
As Adam was the fountainhead of the OLD creation, CHRIST became the fountainhead for the NEW CREATION! And friend, that is the secret to your deliverance today. That is the key to the plague being stayed among us. That is the source of sin’s defeat – the CROSS of Christ. Sin has been defeated. Jesus Christ can set you free.
These two journals have gotten rather lengthy but to be quite frank – the message is very very simple. When the leadership of Israel returned to stand by the brazen altar – the plague of sin STOPPED. Moses and Aaron represent the ministry today. When we return to simple gospel preaching again – believe me – the plague of sin will STOP.
When we stop redirecting men to other ways of deliverance than Christ, we will see a change in our people. We will then see the change in society we have been ordained to foster as the light and salt of this earth.
I’m Determined To Know Nothing
1 Cor. 1:29-31
That no flesh should glory in his presence. [30] But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: [31] That, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.
1 Cor. 2:1-4
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. [2] For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. [3] And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. [4] And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
Paul declared that he was determined to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified. For that reason he didn’t glory in anything HE had done – but he relished in what Christ had done already. That’s the secret to your problem and my problem today – whatever that problem may be. That’s the answer to the doctrinal mess we find ourselves in today in the church. That’s the answer to every single solitary bondage known to mankind today – the preaching of the cross.
Come back to the cross church. Come back to the simplicity in Christ. Come back to the preaching of the gospel. It’s getting late. It’s getting late.
As I close I feel led to ask you today – are you saved? Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power – are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you DAILY trusting in HIS grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you washed? Are you washed? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin. Oh be washed in the BLOOD of the Lamb! There’s a fountain flowing for the SOUL unclean….oh be washed in the blood of the Lamb! Oh Hallelujah. It’s not an old-fashioned teaching or message – it’s an eternal one.
Friend, backslider, sinner man, Christian whose heart is not right before the Lord today – He loves you and does not condemn you. Sin has paid a horrible price in your life already but the only power on earth that can stop the tide of destruction is JESUS’ Blood and the power of HIS HOLY SPIRIT. His Spirit will come inside you and cleanse you, wash you, make you whole again, and give you a new start on life.
There was a plague which had gone out among Israel. It was not stayed until Moses and Aaron returned to the door of the tabernacle. Aaron stood between the dead and the living. He was a type of Christ who is standing today as our Great High Priest between the dead and the living as well. His grace and mercy are extended to you today without question. You must only believe HIM and repent!
Israel hardened her heart and almost perished in the days of provocation as Paul called them. If you harden your heart you will destroy yourself! If you go out into eternity with it unconfessed and unrepented of – you will make hell your eternal home. God has never sent anybody to hell. He prepared that place for the devil and his angels. But those who choose to follow after Satan’s lies and deception and refuse to obey God- they will join him there. It’s that simple and it’s the truth of the gospel message today that we are so neglecting in the church in this hour.
It’s getting late friend. Your life is but a vapor. It can end quicker than it’s taking me to type this sentence or even word. Come to Him today and believe in what HE DID at the cross. Christian, if you’ve already done that and have drifted from that – COME BACK to the DOOR of the Tabernacle! In Jesus name!
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask you today to convict those reading this journal as You’ve never convicted before. Many are reading this a hair’s breath away from eternity. I pray they make the right decision today for you in Jesus name. Bring your people back to the cross of Christ. Amen!