I JUST KEEP WATCHING FOR AN APOSTLE

[Jan Baker ~ Revivalist]

Current mood: catalyzed

Here's a passage of scripture that boggles my mind, maybe YOU can HELP ME! Not that I struggle with anything that it says but that I struggle with the weakness of the church or so called "church" where this scripture is concerned. It seems we can accept this kind of scripture until we really have to believe and adhere to them.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 2 Tim 3:1-6 NKJV

It becomes amazingly difficult when this kind of "Anti-God Nature" is found in one of our family members or very close friend. Yes, when I love them, this scripture can not possibly apply.

We may walk away from someone who lives and produces the fruit in this passage, until that someone is "blood" family…then all of a sudden we begin to excuse them, cry for others to forgive and ultimately accept them…. We begin to plead their case as if they do not know exactly what they are doing….. Crying in their behalf as though they can not help following their own selfish lust. We defend them as though that is what Jesus would do. We say…. "If everyone quits on them who will heal them?" We are not the healer, and sometimes we are in the Healer's way.

If one person can live strong for God then another can…..because He has given His grace and strength to each. He has poured His very life into us. If one is filled with excuses as to why they cannot obey Him and live according to His divine nature, then I wonder just how born again that one really is.

Let me stop and say this, just because I want to…I am more then willing to shower someone with grace and mercy for as long as it need be, but there comes a time when a swift kick in the back side is deserved. I am fed up and furious with so call "Christians" who are playing in the realms of sin and have not only become weak willed but have also "changed" their belief system to accommodate their putrid un- holy lifestyle….and they drag others with them in this sensual weak mentality. They will spend hours in discussion trying to prove that if one "turns away" from them it is error. Many of these lifestyle change "Christians" have been "saved" for years. And on top of all this the icing is added…. "I" am expected (I guess because of my "position" in life) to overlook, stay quiet, and accept, because if I don't I am not forgiving and loving. YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW WHAT I CALL THAT REDICULOUS WAY OF THINKING!!!!!

So rather then obey the written Word that clearly states how to deal with these kind of relationships, we scream for someone to sweeten the water a bit so it can be enjoyed and not taste so bitter to the sinful, compromising palate.

SORRY! NO CAN DO!

The water of the Word of God is "pure." Thank God HE IS NOT AN AMERICAN! And He is not sin tolerant. He does not think according to Western mentality or culture. THANK YOU AGAIN JESUS, if you compromised I would be eternally lost.

I get a kick out of all the illegitimate stuff we call holy and acceptable to God. Let's be real here, why hide it? If one commits adultery and then leaves their spouse and marries the adulterous person, does a vow and a preacher make a new right and holy covenant before God? If one has chosen to break a holy covenant they made before, how can another covenant be sound? The adulterous marriage is based on a foundation of iniquity, and is not blessed. No matter what we say….God does not violate His own nature or His Word.

Sure there's always some Word violating preacher, leader, Pastor who will encourage the sin chasing "Christian" in their transgression.

There is much perversion going on now days…..even in ministry. This kind of conduct originates out of… men will be "lovers of themselves,"… and because we do not obey the instruction of the Apostle Paul and "from such people turn away," this unholy, ungodly character permeates the sin laden church. WHY DON'T WE WAKE UP! SHAKE OURSELVES BEFORE HE MUST COME AND SHAKE US.

Here is the passage from the Message Bible, it speaks loud and clear.

2 Tim 3:1-5 Don't be naive. There are difficult times ahead. 2 As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, 3 dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, 4 treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. 5 They'll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they're animals. Stay clear of these people.

There is not exception stated here about who or when…just the "what"…and yet there is a right way to (stay clear of them) and right timing with God's leading.

We have come through and are still in the establishing and raising up of the Apostle in the church. Oh yes, and everyone it seems wants to jump on the band wagon and be an Apostle. We treat "Apostle" as though it is the utopia of "five fold ministry." Truth is the "higher" you go, the greater the servant you are supposed to become. The greater the glory the greater the requirement. Apostles don't get their ring kissed they usually get the life beat out of them. They start riots by their strong uncompromising teaching. They terrorize the people with notable "power works of God."

Rather than going over what everyone says an Apostle does…..I'd like to say…


Here's what I would like to see:

I'd like to meet just one Apostle, or at least see one from a distance who would take care of the "dirty work" that no one seems to want to deal with. Few and far between is the man or woman who preaches or teaches "have nothing to do with" an unruly believer.

Apostle Paul had no problem putting someone out of the church, or exposing what needed to be exposed when it was time to. He had no problem instructing believers to disassociate with someone who was not genuinely remorseful or genuinely repentant and correctable. Paul knew it was for the benefit of the whole body that this discipline must be carried out. In order for that person to be brought back into fellowship they had to be converted…that is walk away from the sin….they did not cover it over with something else, and call it God's will.

So what is the problem with the Apostolic today? The church is still as sick as ever, why? Because many of the leaders have simply changed their title and yet carry the same old mindset of justifying and excusing sin in the ranks of the house. Still many will not deal with the unruly because they themselves operate as proud, lovers of money, and (my words) lovers of crowds. We have joyously changed our message to "destiny" rather then "dying." There is NO Destiny outside the crucified life. "He must increase…"

If we, His leaders do not adhere to this scripture and those like it in dealing with the flock, we are enabling them in their sin, and we are in God's way. If someone is "cut off" for a season (however long the Lord demands) it releases God to judge the person, deal with them and bring them to repentance. How God chooses to do that is NONE OF OUR BUSINESS. BELIEVER! GET OUT OF GOD'S WAY!

When the Word gives a clear instruction there is a reason for it, and your own idea of "love and forgiveness" is warped if it violates the instruction of the Word of God. How many people in the church will go to hell because we think we know more then God about the proper way to deal with them.

I am so tired of buddy system Apostles…i.e. I will recognize you if you recognize me!...... These still abuse the body of Christ in puffed up arrogance.

I am so tired of self made Apostles who have self made revelation….oh yes, they see angels, they see principalities, they see visions, etc……but they cannot see 2 Timothy 3?......please just do it God's Way….

or get out of our way!


I just keep watching for an Apostle! Will the true Apostles PLEASE STAND UP!