BLIND TO THE TRUTH – Part 2
By W. G. Guy
This article is a follow-on dealing with “Blind To The Truth”. However, we will be dealing with this subject from the point of view of the church, because so much of it is blinded to the truth: and we will find out why.
What is ironic is that there are so many church denominations, and each has their own doctrines; some of which are totally contrary to others. Many even claim to be filled with the Holy Spirit whom they claim to be leading them.
John 16:12-14 – I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Since the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, how come the churches are so diverse in their doctrines and observances? Is it the Holy Spirit that has caused so much divisiveness in the church? I think not, especially since it is part of His task to reveal Christ, His Word, and to guide the church in His Truth! (Clearly much of what we call church is not being led by the Holy Spirit: most likely it is hearing from another vile spirit that causes division and strife.)
Obviously the Holy Spirit is not the cause of so much division; it is man’s doing that has caused all the dissension in the church over the past two thousand years. Thus creating what I referred to as THE OTHER CHURCH, (as published in my book by that title). The various churches have many conflicting doctrines that divide them.
1 Corinthians 11:18-19a – For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, …..
1 Corinthians 12-25 – that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another; (as being united and knit together).
So what could possibly be the cause of such strife and division among the churches? The problem is obviously in the leadership. As identified in my book, THE OTHER CHURCH, there are two churches in the world today. First is the one that Jesus declared the He would build (Matthew 16:18); then there is the other church that man has built. There is a huge difference between the two. Jesus’ church is built on His Word and His Truth: the other church is built on man’s words (doctrines), and his own ideas, observances and traditions.
So how did this other church develop and come about? The reason is that the man-made church has rejected God’s divine order and appointed leadership. The absence of the LORD’s chosen and appointed leadership leaves a vacuum of God’s ordained leadership that man has attempted to fill; but the end result is something other than what Jesus initiated.
Let’s go to the Word of God to see how this came about. First we need to recognize who it is that Jesus set in order to build His church.
Ephesians 2:19-22 – Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Jesus’ church is built on the foundation that is laid by the apostles and prophets. The apostle Paul identified himself a wise master builder.
Most churches recognize Jesus as being the chief corner stone opun which the foundation is laid. The problem is in how they build on this foundation. The apostles are like the building contractor who oversees the construction; and the prophets are like the building inspectors to keep the building prcess going according the Master’s plans.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11 – According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The reason why the church has gone in so many different directions is because the church leadership of man has declared that the ministry of the apostles and prophets is not for today. Thus the wise master builder and foundation layers are longer operating in building His church. It is now all being done man’s way which has created such divisions; and formed the Other Church.
Consider this, when did Jesus institute the ministry of apostles and prophets.
Ephesians 4:9-13 – (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
The appointment of apostles and prophets to His church did not occur during His ministry on the earth; those appointments happened after Jesus ascended back to the Father following His resurrection. Thus these appoints are for the entire church age, until He returns. It is now that these vital ministries are to have their building influence on and in the church.
Ephesians 3:4-5 – whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
These foundation ministries were set in place by God.
1 Corinthians 12:28 – And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
(Notice how many of the man-made other churches reject what is written here!)
Satan’s attempt to nullify the ministry of apostles and prophets was to destroy what Jesus set out to build. The devil wanted to create a false church that would incorporate doctrines of men and demons to nullify the work of Christ.
Ephesians 4:14 –that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Even today the enemy is creating confusion by making false apostles and prophets.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 – For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Man cannot create apostles: that is only for Jesus to do; yet some churches do this very thing. There are also people that appoint themselves as apostles and prophets, also a falsehood.
Revelation 2:2 – (To the church at Ephesus), I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Since the establishment of apostles and prophets was by Jesus, how and when was the rejection of these ministries terminated by man? This occurred most prominently with the establishment of the Roman Catholic Church; the church that man built: and whose influence is still carried out in many of the Protestant Churches to this day.
The Church of Rome, formed in the fourth century, claimed that its leader, the Pope, was in apostolic succession of the apostle Peter, (which is quite false - but I don’t have room to get into that here). Thus the Pope put an end to the ministry of the apostles and prophets, claiming to be the sole Vicar of Christ: and thus the Protestant churches, having come out from the Roman Catholic Church, continue in this same Roman tradition and error.
Since the work of the foundation layers, and wise master builders, has been eliminated from the church, we have been left to the mere human resources of carnal man to build the church. Thus the great diversity! In this case, diversity is not good; it breeds confusion and strife over doctrines and traditions!
1 Corinthians 14:33 – For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
If the true ministry of apostles and prophets were maintained throughout the church age, all these diverse denominations would likely have never formed as the truth would have continued, not being perverted by man and devils. It is high time for churches to take the “blinders” off and embrace the truth of God’s Word by His Holy Spirit, and be the Church that Jesus is coming back for.
John 14:16-17 – And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John 15:26 – But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
The Holy Spirit reveals Christ in all His fullness to His Church!
John 16:13 – Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Again, if the church continued to allow the ministries of the LORD’s true apostles and prophets, along with the Lord’s ordained other gift ministers, we would not have the divisions in the church; or the Other Church that we have today. This division is the work of the enemy that needs to be renounced, rebuked and overthrown in order to move on in the pure Word and Truth of Jesus Christ as Savior and LORD.
John 8:31-32 – Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Even so, COME LORD JESUS AND FILL YOUR CHURCH!
BLIND TO THE TRUTH – Part 2
By W. G. Guy
This article is a follow-on dealing with “Blind To The Truth”. However, we will be dealing with this subject from the point of view of the church, because so much of it is blinded to the truth: and we will find out why.
What is ironic is that there are so many church denominations, and each has their own doctrines; some of which are totally contrary to others. Many even claim to be filled with the Holy Spirit whom they claim to be leading them.
John 16:12-14 – I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Since the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, how come the churches are so diverse in their doctrines and observances? Is it the Holy Spirit that has caused so much divisiveness in the church? I think not, especially since it is part of His task to reveal Christ, His Word, and to guide the church in His Truth! (Clearly much of what we call church is not being led by the Holy Spirit: most likely it is hearing from another vile spirit that causes division and strife.)
Obviously the Holy Spirit is not the cause of so much division; it is man’s doing that has caused all the dissension in the church over the past two thousand years. Thus creating what I referred to as THE OTHER CHURCH, (as published in my book by that title). The various churches have many conflicting doctrines that divide them.
1 Corinthians 11:18-19a – For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, …..
1 Corinthians 12-25 – that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another; (as being united and knit together).
So what could possibly be the cause of such strife and division among the churches? The problem is obviously in the leadership. As identified in my book, THE OTHER CHURCH, there are two churches in the world today. First is the one that Jesus declared the He would build (Matthew 16:18); then there is the other church that man has built. There is a huge difference between the two. Jesus’ church is built on His Word and His Truth: the other church is built on man’s words (doctrines), and his own ideas, observances and traditions.
So how did this other church develop and come about? The reason is that the man-made church has rejected God’s divine order and appointed leadership. The absence of the LORD’s chosen and appointed leadership leaves a vacuum of God’s ordained leadership that man has attempted to fill; but the end result is something other than what Jesus initiated.
Let’s go to the Word of God to see how this came about. First we need to recognize who it is that Jesus set in order to build His church.
Ephesians 2:19-22 – Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Jesus’ church is built on the foundation that is laid by the apostles and prophets. The apostle Paul identified himself a wise master builder.
Most churches recognize Jesus as being the chief corner stone opun which the foundation is laid. The problem is in how they build on this foundation. The apostles are like the building contractor who oversees the construction; and the prophets are like the building inspectors to keep the building prcess going according the Master’s plans.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11 – According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The reason why the church has gone in so many different directions is because the church leadership of man has declared that the ministry of the apostles and prophets is not for today. Thus the wise master builder and foundation layers are longer operating in building His church. It is now all being done man’s way which has created such divisions; and formed the Other Church.
Consider this, when did Jesus institute the ministry of apostles and prophets.
Ephesians 4:9-13 – (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
The appointment of apostles and prophets to His church did not occur during His ministry on the earth; those appointments happened after Jesus ascended back to the Father following His resurrection. Thus these appoints are for the entire church age, until He returns. It is now that these vital ministries are to have their building influence on and in the church.
Ephesians 3:4-5 – whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
These foundation ministries were set in place by God.
1 Corinthians 12:28 – And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
(Notice how many of the man-made other churches reject what is written here!)
Satan’s attempt to nullify the ministry of apostles and prophets was to destroy what Jesus set out to build. The devil wanted to create a false church that would incorporate doctrines of men and demons to nullify the work of Christ.
Ephesians 4:14 –that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Even today the enemy is creating confusion by making false apostles and prophets.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 – For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Man cannot create apostles: that is only for Jesus to do; yet some churches do this very thing. There are also people that appoint themselves as apostles and prophets, also a falsehood.
Revelation 2:2 – (To the church at Ephesus), I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Since the establishment of apostles and prophets was by Jesus, how and when was the rejection of these ministries terminated by man? This occurred most prominently with the establishment of the Roman Catholic Church; the church that man built: and whose influence is still carried out in many of the Protestant Churches to this day.
The Church of Rome, formed in the fourth century, claimed that its leader, the Pope, was in apostolic succession of the apostle Peter, (which is quite false - but I don’t have room to get into that here). Thus the Pope put an end to the ministry of the apostles and prophets, claiming to be the sole Vicar of Christ: and thus the Protestant churches, having come out from the Roman Catholic Church, continue in this same Roman tradition and error.
Since the work of the foundation layers, and wise master builders, has been eliminated from the church, we have been left to the mere human resources of carnal man to build the church. Thus the great diversity! In this case, diversity is not good; it breeds confusion and strife over doctrines and traditions!
1 Corinthians 14:33 – For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
If the true ministry of apostles and prophets were maintained throughout the church age, all these diverse denominations would likely have never formed as the truth would have continued, not being perverted by man and devils. It is high time for churches to take the “blinders” off and embrace the truth of God’s Word by His Holy Spirit, and be the Church that Jesus is coming back for.
John 14:16-17 – And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John 15:26 – But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
The Holy Spirit reveals Christ in all His fullness to His Church!
John 16:13 – Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Again, if the church continued to allow the ministries of the LORD’s true apostles and prophets, along with the Lord’s ordained other gift ministers, we would not have the divisions in the church; or the Other Church that we have today. This division is the work of the enemy that needs to be renounced, rebuked and overthrown in order to move on in the pure Word and Truth of Jesus Christ as Savior and LORD.
John 8:31-32 – Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Even so, COME LORD JESUS AND FILL YOUR CHURCH!
