“Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.” (Luke 13:18-21)

It’s important to see that Jesus, speaking of what the Kingdom of God is like, follows up the large tree and birds of the air parable above with a lesson on leaven. First of all mustard seeds don’t morph into huge trees, they only grow as small bushes. In this parable Jesus is exaggerating the growth of the mustard seed to instill in the reader a reality of massive proportions.

Many see this parable as an explanation of the ever expanding influence of the Church around the world. Some actually preach that the Church will be the all encompassing world influence before the end. But in these same verses Jesus tells us the birds of the air are nested in its branches.

In Jesus’ parables, the birds of the air consistently refer to an evil presence, and this evil presence has made their homes in the branches of this huge tree. Certainly we see Jesus referring to something much more sinister in this parable.

After all, He commanded us to spread the gospel around the world, and in that respect His Gospel has been and is being expanded worldwide. What do all the birds of the air and the leaven have to do with the kingdom of God? Is there something evil lurking in the Church?

Considering the concept of leaven, which is a reference to sin, Jesus has just given us a glimpse of what He saw happening as the enormity of His church became manifest. The birds of the air and the leaven refer to the corruption of His Church. False religions have been around and flourishing since the tower of Babel.

As the Church became established it has been bombarded with false teachings to lure people away from the truth. The birds of the air are infiltrators adding infusions of false teachings to the body of Christ’s Church. Our Lord is providing us with a picture of something very disturbing coming upon the Body—His very Church, in the last days.

It began with just a small amount of untruth. An insignificant amount of leaven added to the dough and after a while it encompasses the entire mix. Sound doctrine becomes flawed as tiny bits of erroneous teachings begin to spread through the Church. Eventually major doctrinal flaws develop. Consequently these flaws begin to become established as truth all co-habituating in the Church.

The woman has three measures of meal which was a normal grain offering to God in those days. She hides leaven within the grain offering thereby corrupting the whole offering. Many congregations nowadays attempt to place on the altar of God totally corrupt offerings. God doesn’t accept corrupt offerings but He will accept a change of heart and a return to the truth of His word.

Leaders and others in the Church who have been taught through corrupt sources, such as their liberal professors in seminaries, that the Bible is in error try almost with abandon to ingratiate themselves to their flocks so they may teach as experts on the fallacies of the Bible.

They will use allegory or twist words, even go as far as to say the Bible has never really been the inerrant word of God. In this way these false teachers can substitute their message for the truth. Their message will be one of deceit, completely untrustworthy, but it will sound as though it were doctrinal, even biblical.

Jesus saw His Church growing into a massive gathering of believers, but becoming corrupted from within. As sad as this reality seems, Jesus tells us it will happen and it is.

Many heresies permeate our Churches today and it’s hard to completely identify them and expose them before they’ve actually gained a strong foothold and accomplished their evil goal. It’s Satan’s agenda to corrupt from within and to lead astray whole congregations. Many falsehoods have crept in unawares and like leaven have now corrupted to a point that many of these once sound doctrinal congregations may be un-salvageable.

You’ve all heard the old adage “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” Satan has joined the Church. Why? It’s much easier for Satan and his minions of evil to instill their corrupt ideas into an established community of believers who won’t study their Bibles. Especially since many now believe the Bible to be erroneous. All Christian cults began with a smidgen of truth. They continue because they’ve convinced masses of people they’re right and the Bible is wrong.

Satan, for the most part, was hitting a brick wall in his deceptive practices against the established Church until he joined it. Just like the leaven in the above verse, little by little these satanic lies spread among the saints. It’s not difficult to recognize those who have been deceived by his lies.

Those who are deceived and leading congregations are the ones taking Satan’s lies to the next level. These are folks who are well trusted by the flock, and thus they are doing Satan’s biding and leading whole congregations down that slippery slope to destruction.

How is it this possible to deceive from within you might ask? It’s really quite simple in these days of self importance and time limitations and constraints. Satan knows many won’t take time out of their busy schedules to read their Bibles.

How many will spend a few hours watching an ungodly movie and then turn right around and say they have no time to study their Bibles? Satan knows of the apathetic attitude towards God’s word because he has been the major source leading to that apathy.

Satan’s influence in the Church is apparent. The Bible which was once revered and looked upon as God’s truth and sought after, has now, become to many as just an old, antiquated, mythological nuisance.

Through Satan’s leadership some have even re-written the Bible so it will adhere to his agenda. He’ll use any means to show the Bible to be of little or no consequence spiritually or truthfully. Many have fallen for his deception and many more continue to allow themselves to be led in that direction.

As we watch the growth of the mega-church we can see, in many cases, a shift away from being a Christ centered community of believers to a worldly outreach center. Just like the exaggerated results of a mustard seed in the above Scripture verse, we watch the growth of the mega-church with astonishment. Corruption is there as those with discernment watch the “birds of the air” – Satan’s minions of evil – landing in those branches spreading their evil influence throughout.

Why are so many weekend Christians attracted to these mega-churches? Could it be because they offer so much in the way of worldly pleasures? Coffee shops, boo stores, bowling alleys, really, the list goes on and on. Is Christ the attraction or has He been relegated to a back room where no one really needs to be bothered by Him? Are these weekenders attending so they can return home with the knowledge they paid tribute to their god and his huge new pleasure dome?

There are many pastors, some from the mega-church and some not, who have a skewed view of the Bible. In some cases we see these pastors teaching non-biblical self-reliance and prosperity gospels, writing books and becoming themselves more popular to their congregations than Jesus Himself.

Is it the gospel and Christ that’s being promoted, or is it the pastor who is promoting himself? Many are only tickling the ears of their parishioners to the exclusion of the core teachings found in the Bible. What’s worse, this is exactly what many weekend Christians want to hear.

“For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.” (Proverbs 1:32)

Convicting messages from pastors are also on the way out these days, and feel good messages are in. Passive messages from pastors that will bring people back to fill pews week in and week out are the current rage, whether or not these folks receive any edifying truths is certainly in question. Church growth at any cost now seems to be the norm. God loves us, no debate there, but neglecting core Christian issues is not preaching the whole truth.

If we need to supply people with creative nuances within our church buildings to draw them in, then we’ve traded the truth of the Gospel for a lie. We’re never told to entertain the masses to achieve high number results, we’re to preach and teach Christ and His doctrine. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the key teaching that will lead a soul to God. We are to pray the Holy Spirit’s conviction upon hearts of the lost people as they sit in those pews.

Jesus tells us that many will hear the message (receive an invitation to the feast) but will come up with many excuses as to why they can’t commit. In churches where the gospel message is made fluff and of no significance, many will never come to understand that becoming a born again believer in Christ is a life change and a full life commitment to the One who paid the price “In full” for our salvation and who now owns us.

Jesus tells us in Luke’s Gospel to count the cost before deciding to commit our lives to Him.

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, this man began to build, and was not able to finish. (Luke 14:28-30)

If this message never gets preached many will never come to a full understand of just what it means:

“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27)

Hate is a harsh word used here by our Lord. No, He’s not telling us to hate anyone. Jesus is telling us to be prepared for the cost of following Him. Many, even in our own families will believe we hate them because we put Jesus first before anyone else. Is this a part of the teachings in those feel good, Church growth centered congregations?

Brood of vipers, serpents, (Matt. 12:34, 23:33), woe to you hypocrites, (Matt. 6:2, 5, 16, 15:7, 16:3, 22:18, 23:14, 15, 23, 25,  27, 29, 24:51, Mar 7:6, Luke 11:44, 12:46), blind Pharisees, (John 9:40), fools, (Matt. 23:17, 23:19, Luke 11:40, 24:25).

Did Jesus pull any punches when He addressed the Pharisees in the midst of the crowds with those words? Most pastors, when addressing their congregations, would not go near those terms today avoiding them like the plague. By using the words “brood of vipers” and “serpents”, Jesus was referring to those whom he was addressing as “the children of Satan”. By using the word “hypocrite,” it would be the same as referring to someone today as “two faced.”

Would it not be appropriate for us to teach and preach as Jesus taught using the same methods as He? Many pastors today could take a lesson from Jesus on how He built His ministry. What truths did He use to convict the hearts of those who listened to Him and followed Him all around Galilee? Can we not assume that, not just occasionally but constantly, we must proclaim the whole truth of God’s word, just as Jesus did?

“For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6)

Pastors should be speaking to the heart of every lost soul that sits before them.

Granted, Jesus performed many miracles and through the public viewing of most of those healings He established His ministry. But it was His words that actually brought the people to Him and left them in wonderment. We have those words written within the pages of our Bibles.

He wants us to learn His words and to teach others those words. We aren’t to proclaim a new message to the masses. We stand on the truth of the Gospel. We believers are admonished to spread the message, His message which is the truth. That’s our job and it’s been our job for almost two-thousand years now. It’s never changing, it’s ever powerful, and it’s more than adequate for producing the miraculous.

Jesus Christ spoke the truth no matter to whom He spoke or what He encountered. Everywhere He went He had to confront obstacles such as doubt, hatred, even attempted murder, and He always used truth to establish His footing.

He never relied on entertainment to pull in a crowd, as a matter of fact Jesus, for the most part, tried to distract those viewing the miracles He preformed, even telling those who were involved to keep silent about them. Most who heard Him speak loved His words which were and still are the core of His ministry. Those same words should be the core of our ministries also.

As I watch in astonishment where the Church heading today, I must ask the question: Isn’t it about time for some old time Gospel preaching? A little hellfire and brimstone Jonathan Edwards’s style couldn’t hurt in these times of political correctness where everything has been watered down through the delivery of milk to the parishioners instead of meat. Think about it.

God bless you all,

Ron Graham

 

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (2 Corinthians 10:4).

Strongholds are fortresses where Satan’s demonic hoards set up their residence and attach themselves to your life in a very personal way; the weaker the believer the easier the enemy’s     job and the more secure his stronghold. Weak believers are abundant in our churches today. Ultimately, if a significant enough number of weak believers become entrenched in a congregation the entire fold may very well become an encampment for the enemy.

Paul the apostle knew how to fight those strongholds and it wasn’t through the use of carnal weaponry. In Ephesians chapter 6, Paul gives us a list of the spiritual weapons to be used as we stand against the enemy the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. It’s a war we’re in and these are our weapons for battle. God knows exactly what we need to fight this war and how to arm His soldiers (believers).

Weak believers might try to use persuasive words as a weapon, or manipulation, even portraying an image of success as their spiritual weapon. These are not weapons with which to fight a spiritual battle, these are weapons of political diplomacy where compromise and making concessions to the enemy is championed.

Using the perception of power and human schemes and programs to set up feeble attempts to stifle or dispose of the enemy strongholds is a recipe for failure. Strong, capable believers are those who probe deep into their Bibles and search and learn the Scriptures and take heed of those scriptures. These are the folks which give Satan his most fierce opposition.

“Our spiritual weapons are scorned by the world, but feared by demonic powers. When we fight with truth, righteousness, evangelism, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer, no principality or power can stand against us.” —John Trapp

The believer’s enemy has little opportunity for building strongholds when we are fitted for battle with God’s weaponry. He’s forced to stand by and watch or flee as believers roll out the heavy artillery belonging to the Lord. It frustrates the enemy when believers are so well equipped. No matter what Satan throws at us, if we are strong in our faith and secure in our biblical knowledge the minions of evil will always retreat.

Congregations need strong, committed believers in their midst. When more believers submit to Jesus’ authority and His precepts wholeheartedly each Christian fold flourishes. New believers need to be equipped in this battle from the start of their conversion. We must remember that conversion is only the beginning, too many treat it like it’s the end, and that once they become believers that’s good enough. Many congregations today are overly focused on new membership, adding noses add billfolds to the fold. But neglecting a regime of teaching new converts will undoubtedly compel the enemy to increase his strongholds.

Pastors especially need to rally the troops and lead in the battle to proclaim God’s word and adhere to it completely. If we aren’t really following Jesus wholeheartedly then we aren’t empowered thoroughly. What does it mean to follow Jesus wholeheartedly?

Everything Jesus taught becomes our way of life. We don’t argue with our Savior. His way is the only way. Partial or a less than total commitment just won’t do for fending off the enemy or for eliminating his strongholds.

Weak, uncommitted believers damage the folds ability to stand against the wiles of the devil. They are a drain, if you will, on the whole congregation. Basically, what we need to see in the body of Christ is the same thing we see in our national sports teams, “total commitment.”

A sports team works together to accomplish their goal, and are successful only as a team. If one person is carrying all the weight on their shoulders, that team will ultimately fail. In the Believers case it’s a thorough and complete commitment to the cause of Christ.

All believers are in the game and carry the same weight. If some, or in the case of many congregations today most, allow others to carry all the weight the Christian Church weakens. Certainly we see this all around America, the true body of Christ is diminishing.

Enemy-built strongholds thrive in weak congregations. Weak congregations are those consisting of people who are uneducated in the truth of the Bible. They attend church services every week but seldom, if ever. pick up their Bibles during their away-from-church time.

There are 168 hours in a week, and the vast majority of Christians only devote one hour a week to God Almighty. That leaves 167 hours to weaken and get into mischief. I know what many of you will say “Some devote two or three hours per week and more to church and to study.”

Most people these days place studying God’s Word at the bottom of their priority scale. Let’s be honest, if we aren’t interested in learning what God says in His word, if we place more interest and devotion in worldly pursuits, then how will we ever fend off the advances of the enemy? It just isn’t going to happen.

Unpopular as this subject may be, it’s the most important focus believers must concentrate on as they adhere themselves to God’s will. Building our walls of protection through the word of God is imperative. It won’t happen through a single hour in Church on Sunday mornings.

God’s power to overcome the enemy’s advances in our lives is only accessed through our faith in Him and our fervent prayers and Bible study. Understand, my brethren, our commitment to Jesus really means we will not deviate from His plan.

We will not let anything come between us and our devotion to Him. Then, and only then, will we be a part of the winning team. Believers know that, as the body of Christ, we are on the winning team which means no matter who promotes a different gospel it won’t affect us because we’re able to differentiate the truth from a lie. As biblically knowledgeable believers we will only adhere to the truth. But be careful my brethren “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).

Jesus tells us to be watchful of deception:

“And He said, Take heed that ye be not deceived…” (Luke 21:8).

Deception comes in many forms, such as smooth talkers, deceptive practices, blatant liars, even well meaning but misinformed pastors can lead to deception. Satan has designed some deceptions for the intent of specifically corrupting the saints.

“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:5).

Jesus gave His disciples many specific warnings about the deceptions to come. Many would come in His name saying they are the Christ; history has proved that prophecy correct. Many have been led astray by these false Christ’s, having fallen for that great deception. We, as His followers, are admonished by Him that deceptive people abound, ready to lead us down that slippery slope to destruction.

Believers won’t fall for that deception if we are strong in our faith and utilizing God’s awesome power in our lives. But if we’ve allowed the enemy in to build his strongholds then the result is a flood of deception. Remember the deceptions are many and most of the time they are thrown in with a bit of truth, just enough mind you to sound biblical to the uninformed ear.

It is very difficult to eliminate the enemy’s strongholds from within the body of Christ; it doesn’t take much to weaken believers today. The body of Christ is constantly being attacked and weakened. When the church allows evil to permeate its fold, it permits the infusion of evil intent which is bent upon destroying the body itself, and the cause of Christ suffers greatly.

More and more this is happening around the world because Christians aren’t standing on God’s precepts. Either they don’t know the truth, or they don’t believe God’s word. They don’t take the Scriptures seriously, consequently they put no stock in the warning from Jesus Himself and more strongholds are erected in favor of the enemy.

Just take a look at how the contemplative/emergent/purpose driven agenda has infiltrated the Church. Their main purpose is to separate the fold from the truth of God’s word. Hence, the weakening goes forward and another of the enemy’s strongholds is erected.

Carnal thinking, when attributed to the believer, is a true stronghold where the enemy lavishes and basks in his lair. He laughs at the believer. The enemy has nothing but contempt for all people, but even more so for believers. He knows by a believer’s carnal thinking that he has him, and in some cases entire congregations, exactly where he wants them.

Believers remain basically useless for the kingdom of God while the enemy’s strongholds become more and more fortified. Instead of God’s word being the whole truth, other avenues (mans precepts) are pursued in an attempt to gain a higher sense of spirituality. This is a satanic stronghold perpetuated by deceived individuals and packaged and sold to the church today. Example: Many believers accept the lie of evolution and try miserably to tie that lie to God’s creative work.

I’ve noticed that some of the brethren aren’t convinced Jesus is God. It’s scary to think there are many who call themselves Christians yet can’t seem to grasp the truth of who Jesus really is. Some don’t believe that the Bible is really God’s word. They aren’t convinced that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, that no man comes to the Father but by Him.

Over the past couple of years as I’ve posted commentaries to the internet, many have disputed God’s truth with me. Most who argue with me use phrases like “I think” or “I feel”, but then add no Scripture to back up these feelings. We should all be aware that our feelings can be one of the enemy’s strongholds and they aren’t to be trusted.

Our feelings need to conform to Scripture instead of trying to conform Scripture to us. If we don’t believe God’s word then we are nothing more than heathens totally lost parading around in believers clothing.

Weak believers won’t commit to Jesus’ teachings. They refuse to be placed in with those fundamental followers of Christ who actually take the Bible literally as the true living word of God. Thus through erroneous teachings many become wrapped up in a delusion which proclaims the Bible to have been written by man and it includes outdated, mythological, or even falsehoods that diminish its other context. Other weak believers conclude the Bible to be mostly allegorical and therefore basically useless in today’s culture.

Strongholds appear to be overwhelming as we begin to see more weak believers infiltrating the body of Christ and infecting the Church with their learned hypocrisy. The Body of Christ can’t afford weak believers. We are coming down to the final hour, folks, and we must remain strong. There are strongholds to defeat, and defeat them we must. Only through a commitment to the truth of God’s word can we regain the ground that was previously ours but has been lost to the charlatans.

God chooses to work in the lives of believers. He uses believers to accomplish his goal. He uses us to spread His word and to help enlighten and attract others to the truth, and to edify one another. We, the body of Christ, are a light for the lost world. Weak believers shine forth weak light or no light at all. Strong, committed believers shine forth the powerful light of Christ. Which light shines from you?

Complacency and apathy in a believer give the enemy his greatest strength. When believers are no longer motivated to be a team player and to help motivate the flock they become more of a detriment to the fold instead of a deterrent to the enemy’s building of strongholds.

I must reiterate that fervent prayer and a committed regime of Bible study is the key to avoid the formation of strongholds by the enemy. Over and over again this has been my mantra and the theme of most of my commentaries. If, by writing these commentaries, I can convince even a few of the brethren to read and study their Bibles, to receive from God his gift of knowledge and wisdom which translates into discernment, that would be worth all the effort placed in these commentaries.

God’s word is the power we need to sustain us in these soul trying times. I challenge every believer to study God’s word an hour or more every day or night of the week. If that means you miss the reruns on TV, which you’ve already seen, or you miss the ball game because you were studying your Bible it won’t really affect the outcome of the game because you missed watching it. But, by studying your Bible, you can help the fold where you worship strengthen its stance against the invading enemy.

God will work his plan through every believer who will commit to saying “yes” to Him. If you are protected by God’s mighty power who can stand against you? Certainly by studying your Bibles and by living through God’s power the strongholds of the enemy can be eliminated. The fold can and will survive.

God bless you all,

Ron Graham