Who, Me?
"But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" -Matt 3:7 (KJV)
Make no mistake for the Wrath of God is coming! John the Baptist was a fiery and no-kidding preacher, preaching repentance for the kingdom of God was at hand. He didn't pull any punches nor did he soften the reality of God's truths - who He actually was and is today (Heb 13:8). So do we have any preachers today heralding this same message? I would say very, very, very few.
Who would think that a loving God - you know the one we've been taught about all our church-going lives, would actually send people to hell via His wrath? Where do you hear this type of message today. Who should hear it? All of us should!!
"Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" - Luke 3:7 (KJV)
John blasted the religious leaders on the day when they arrived to the baptism he was performing. John called them snakes (vipers) and asked them who told you about what's coming for the unbelievers, the fakers, the false teachers (and we have a lot of these snakes masquerading as pastors in our churches right now!). You see John knew who they were and what they represented. We notice that John was slinging these tough words not only at the church leaders of the day but also at the people for in Luke 3:7, he also taught these things to all the people present. Bringing this home today, he was talking to the conservatives and liberals of our time. That's the folks sitting in church pews every Sunday. And that's the peeps attending church-sponsored Christian conferences, seminars, speeches, rallies, concerts and all kinds of events.
The Pulpit Pleasers-
LISTEN EVERYONE: You can believe this or not but nevertheless it's true, most Christian churches deliver a softened Biblical message ripping the teeth out of the Gospel so as to leave in its place a "defanged" God, void of any anger, fury, wrath, or judgment. For churches today pour on plenty of the lovey-dovey stuff, with emphasis heavy on the mercy and grace of our Savior but void of the no-kidding truth of scripture - His wrath, anger, fury and judgment. We hear a non-offensive Gospel, unfortunately, by design. It's our church leaders hidden agenda. Most pulpit pleasers do this so as to preserve their paychecks, their self-righteous dignity and their desire to have the congregants love them.
They promote their "church businesses", at the expense of compromising the Gospel, to make sure they stay afloat. This is not love - this is a dislike of the Gospel, your soul and the Lord; they do this knowingly and will pay a hefty price when they stand before the Lord God Almighty!
Yep, tough and hard words but can you face the reality of the truth?
And they refuse to speak of the severity of God's wrath and the impending judgment waiting to be downloaded on a sinful and unrepentant people. They are not showing their love and concern for their flocks but just the opposite. The religious "hypocrites" behind our pulpits fail to teach repentance mainly because they don't practice it themselves.
Babes in the Pews, Happily Chugging Down the Milk and Pablum-
Most of Christian churches today might as well pass out baby bibs and pints of warm milk at the door as the folks come in to hear and see the "show" because that's all that's offered there. We have many spiritual babies sitting in the pews drinking down only the milk of His Gospel; taught only the warm softened pablum of His word. Why? Because they only receive baby food rich in only the milk of the word - 1 Cor 3:2. They are not ready to receive the meat of the word for they haven't matured in the Lord.
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child." - Heb 5:12-13 (ESV)
You see Almighty God and church are not to be like a sports event, where people go to be entertained and to feel the heat of competition with chanted cheers for one team or another. And it's not an emotional-only event ... friends, this is a Holy, Righteous God we come to worship, not some pulpit hero. God in His love, mercy, kindness, grace and ... judgment is not a game! He doesn't play games or approve of fake (insincere) worship - Isa 1:14-16; Isa 59:2-3; Hos 6:6; Amos 5:22-24. Churchgoers - Christians, if you can call them that today, are not taking God seriously!
FOR MOST, THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD IN THE CHURCH OR IN THE PEOPLE THAT CALL THEMSELVES CHRISTIANS!
You can go to church a million times a week, sing in the choir, lead a Bible study or small group, speak eloquently, even read your Bible (but not for understanding) and it won't mean diddly unless you practice confessing your sins and engaging in sincere repentance. There are absolutely no alternatives or substitutes for this. These are elements of living a holy life before our God. If you do not do these things, you will not see the Kingdom of God - Luke 13:1-5, Heb 12:14. Seriously friends - the truth that all of us must face in this is that these types of churchgoers are headed directly for hell! Think this is untrue, read the Scriptures. (This repeated again below for it's that important).
Listen to what the Bible says about fake Christians and those that don't spend sincere time in knowing Him - "From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty" (Rev 19:14-15, ESV). He says in 2 Th 1:8-9, that He is coming "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9- Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;" (KJV). Who hears this with understanding today. Do Christians take this seriously? Who wants to hear it? Do I, do you? Yes, I do!
Friends, do you get this? Do you hear this in your church? If you don't, ask the pastor/s why? And if they can only offer excuses - get out of that place fast!!!
If You Call Yourself a Christian ...
If you call yourself a Christian, it's time to 'Christian-up' and know who God is. Know about Him, know His word. Know that the days ahead will get worse and not better. You had better fear Him as well and tremble at His word - this is not a game - 1 Pet 1:17. Know that His word says that terrible times are coming and if you are not prepared (but instead refuse to acknowledge this and keep your head firmly buried in the sand) you will probably "faint" in the days coming - Luke 21:26. (here's the definition in Greek of the word faint - here).
Do not put your trust in false preachers that refuse to teach about the wrath of God. If John the Baptist preached about the wrath of God, who are we to disregard it? Do not put your trust in a religion or in men. Many people will be entering hell because they refuse to read their Bibles and know God and instead trust in idols, in the traditions of men and in false teachings. They don't hear (or even want to hear) about their sin and therefore don't repent.
One last thing John said after he ripped the heads off the leaders and the people. He said they must bear the "fruit of repentance" (Matt 3:8). So who repents these days? Do you? Do your leaders? Is it even taught? Do your research and examine that without repentance in your life - look out! I'm not talking about how much you attend church or how good you are or how many good things you do, I'm talking the meat and potatoes of sincere repentance before a Holy and Righteous God. You will find in Luke 13:1-5, the stark reality of the seriousness of repentance from Jesus' own lips and what will happen to you if you don't repent.
It's time to get things right with God. I'm talking to me, to you and to the pastors and church leaders in our midst today. God is not playing games with His word. I'll leave you with the severity of His word in the following verse... right.
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." -Heb 4:12 (ESV)
Amen.
-BPWatcher, Internet Preacher and Bible Prophecy Watchman
GET RIGHT WITH ALMIGHTY GOD NOW! KNOW ABOUT HIS WRATH WHICH IS TO COME.
