Roots of Apostasy

Roots of Apostasy

     In the midst of this great falling away that we face, He desires for us to be warned by His holy Scripture, given by His inspiration, being profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work, by examples of those who have thus departed from us (2 Thess 2:3, 2 Tim 3:16). For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope (Rom 15:4). Oh dear saints the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the LORD shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the Truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should BELIEVE A LIE: That they all might be damned who BELIEVED NOT THE TRUTH, BUT HAD PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. (2 Thess 2:7-12)

     Surely these castaways have committed two evils; they have forsaken Christ, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water (Jer 2:13). God commands us to KNOW THEREFORE AND SEE that it is an EVIL THING and BITTER, when a soul hast forsaken the LORD his God, and His fear is not found within him, when he has been allured through the lusts of his flesh, through his great wantonness, when he is brought yet again into bondage, having been overcome, having turned from the holy commandment delivered unto him, for he is as a dog turned to its vomit again and as a washed sow turned again to her wallowing in the mire (Jer 2:19, 2 Pet 2:18-22). O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake Thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from Thee shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters (Jer 17:13)!

Why doth a soul depart from the living Christ!?!

     Thus saith the LORD, “what iniquity have your fathers found in Me, that they are gone far from Me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?” (Jer 2:15). This is the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, who doth open His hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing, Who causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that He may bring forth food out of the earth And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart (Eph 1:3, Ps 145:16. Ps 104:14-15). The just LORD is in the midst of His people; He will not do iniquity: every morning doth He bring His judgment to light, He faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame (Zeph 3:5)!

“I speak as to wise men, judge ye what I say” (1 Cor 10:15)

    

“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;² And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;³ And did all eat the same spiritual meat;⁴ And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.⁵ But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.⁶ Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.⁷ Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.⁸ Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.⁹ Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.¹⁰ Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.¹¹ Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.¹² Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.¹³ There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.¹⁴ Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵ I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.” (1 Cor 10)

     Herein this passage is conveyed the root of all apostasy and the Spiritual secret of its avoidance. These Israelites ate and drank of the LORD Jesus Christ. They had been regenerated and had experienced the salvation of the LORD both personally, corporately, and symbolically (e.g. the exodus from Egypt, the Passover, receiving manna in the desert and water from the rock). God Himself had given them bread from heaven to eat, both the carnal means of sustenance, manna, as well as the true bread from heaven which the Father giveth: the LORD Jesus Christ, He Which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. As He hath spoken, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst”. (John 6:31-35) When Jesus spoke these Words the Jew murmured at Him, and Jesus said, “Murmur not among yourselves” (John 6:41-43) Oh the woe of mankind that they do murmur against the heavenly manna, our LORD Jesus Christ! From the Israelites whose tempting of the LORD, their inquiring if He was among them, resulted in the coining of the names of the places Massah (testing) and Meribah (quarreling) and whose murmurings were heard of the LORD (Ex 17:7. Ex 16:7), to these Jews who murmured at the very spoken Words of the God-Man Christ, to the early apostates Ananias and Sapphira, Demas, Philetus, Hymeneus, who agreed to tempt the Spirit of the LORD (Acts 5:9), to countless present day regenerated saints who are daily impaled and hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, this has been the root of apostasy in every generation! Oh how they do murmur against the Bread sent from heaven!

     The prophet Isaiah mentions the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He hath bestowed on them according to His mercies, and according to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses. For the LORD said, “Surely they are My people, children that will not lie:” so He was their Saviour. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled, and vexed His Holy Spirit: therefore He was turned to be their enemy, and He fought against them. (Is 63:7-10).

      The apostasy of that Exodus generation, and numerous future generations of Israelites is given as an example to us, as an admonition to us, to whom has come the ends of the world characterized by this GREAT FALLING AWAY, yes, this MYSTERY OF INIQUITY. From these examples we are commanded to:

Not lust after evil things

Neither let us tempt Christ

Neither murmur ye

Take heed lest we fall

Flee from idolatry

Neither let us commit fornication

Neither be ye idolaters

Not lust after evil things

Not lust after evil things

“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Tim 2:22)

“¹⁴ As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:¹⁵ But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;¹⁶ Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Pet 1:14-16)

“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” (1 Pet 2:11)

Neither be ye idolaters

“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (2 Cor 6:16)

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:” (Col 3:5)

“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;² That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.³ For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:” (1 Pet 4:1-3)

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” (1 John 5:21)

Neither let us commit fornication

“¹⁸ Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.¹⁹ What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?²⁰ For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” (1 Cor 6:18-20)

“But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;” (Eph 5:3)

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:” (1 Thess 4:3)

Neither let us tempt Christ

“Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” (Rev 2:16)

“²⁰ Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.²¹ And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.²² Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.²³ And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” (Rev 2:20-23)

“¹⁵ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.¹⁶ So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.¹⁷ Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” (Rev 3:15-17)

Neither murmur ye

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings:” (Phil 2:14)

Take heed lest we fall

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” (Heb 3:12)

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Eph 4:30)

    The root of apostasy is unbelief that God Himself is sufficient, that He is powerful and merciful. For God hath spoken once; twice have His people heard this; that power belongeth unto God. Also unto the LORD belongeth mercy: for He renderest to every man according to his work. (Ps 62:11-12) It is a despising of the feast of the LORD prepared in the desert, a detesting of the very Person of the LORD Jesus Christ. The heart which once cried, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my LORD: for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death;” (Phil 3:7-10) now becomes chastened beyond the point of return, the soil hardens, just as the soil of the Israelite earth turned to iron under the just punishment for their transgression of His commandments, and the living waters that once fell upon the fertile soil of their humble hearts ceases to fall under the judgment of the iron heavens (Lev 26:19) resulting in the outcome of the stony and thorny grounds: they are immediately offended when affliction or persecution ariseth for the Word’s sake or the Word within them is choked by the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things (Mark 4:16-19). That very Word which was able to save their souls had they laid apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and received It with meekness, is disbelieved and rejected (James 1:21)!

     The people of God who do walk before Him with a perfect heart are characterized by united exaltation of the preeminent Christ, in Whom all fullness dwells (Col 1:18-19), and thus they have learned in whatsoever state they are in, therewith to be content. They know both how to be abased, and how to abound: everywhere and in all things they are instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. They can do all things through Christ which strengthens them. (Phil 4:11-13)  For God is able to make all grace abound towards them, that they, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. For surely He hath dispersed abroad; He hath given to the poor: His righteousness remaineth for ever! (2 Cor 9:8-9) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (James 1:17). Their God does and shall supply all their needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19). These elect do know that He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things (Rom 8:32)? By the Spirit these saints do understand what has been freely given to them of God! For as it is written, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God! (1 Cor 2:9-12) For we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but we have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Rom 8:15-17, 27) The saints do receive even carnal things FROM and IN the Person of Christ, not apart from Him! Consider the rebuke of Nathan to King David after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba:

^“7 And Nathan said to David, thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;⁸ And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. ⁹ Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.” (2 Sam 12:7-9)

     The physical aspects of the blessings given to King David were not his sin; his sin was the lust in his heart that caused him to despise the commandment of the LORD and to do evil in His sight. The physical blessings given to King David, his Kingship, his wives, his deliverance (and certainly there are Spiritual aspects of these blessings) were to be wrought IN GOD, not apart from Him. When men fail to believe in the living Christ for sustenance, and come out from His covering to acquire needs and desires (whether wicked or inherently neutral (e.g. food, shelter), they have departed from Him, they do murmur in their hearts, they do tempt Christ, they do commit idolatry…such repeated occurrences result in eternal reprobation. Oh LORD have mercy! We are not to trust in anything, or desire anything outside of the living Person of the LORD Jesus Christ! For we are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in us. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in us, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in us, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken our mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in us. (Rom 8:9-11)

     Oh that we would now, at the present time, at this very moment hear His sayings and do them, that we may be likened unto the wise man which built his house upon a rock, that when the rain descends and the floods come, and the winds blow, and beat upon that house; it fall not for it was founded upon a rock. God forbid that we disobey His sayings and be as the foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (Matt 7:24-27) The LORD knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished (2 Pet 2:9). For blessed in the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the LORD hath promised to them that love Him (James 1:12)!

^“16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.¹⁷ But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; ¹⁸ How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.¹⁹ These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. ²⁰ But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, ²¹ Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. ²² And of some have compassion, making a difference: ²³ And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.²⁴ Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,²⁵ To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 16-25)

“You mark my words, and it won’t be long … when persecution begins in this country [USA], and it strips everything from you, and most of the evangelical church goes totally apostate, and little groups are left to be berated, THEN you will see that Christ is enough.”  ~Paul Washer

An Account of the Church of Wells

The Fruit of the Church of Wells

written by sister preethi after a short season with these brethren

Dear Beloved Remnant,

     I call upon the LORD, Who in His time shall show, Who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; Whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to Whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. (1 Tim 6:15-16) May He give me a faithful spirit to bear witness of those things which I have experienced in my time here thus far at the Church of Wells. I write to you who have been saved and called with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel (2 Tim 1:9-10).

     Many of you know of the fire that burned within our household in the weeks leading up to my departure to the Church of Wells. My departure was a result of, I believe, the sovereign will and command of the LORD Jesus to my soul, and took place at the expense of submission to carnal authority, and the opposition of multitudes of, not only carnal men/false Christians, but those among the true remnant of our Christ. Virtually all whom I had heretofore feared in the LORD because of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit within them in the past had fiercely opposed my sensing of the LORD’s call to go to the Church of Wells. Numerous individuals believed that I was under the influence of demons or Satan himself, those seducing spirits of which the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall give heed to these and doctrines of devils and thus depart from the faith (1 Tim 4:1). During the few weeks before I left, I had several great men of God, men to whom I owe much for their nourishing of my soul in the past with sound teachings on true conversion, overcoming sin, evangelism, the nature of atonement, among other things, strongly urge me not to go to the Church of Wells. Common remarks were “There is no way that it can be God’s will for you to leave your parents against their will”, “If all of the remnant has forsaken you, then surely you have erred from the Truth”, and “There is no way the Church of Wells finds favor with God when they are destroying the peace and unity of your household”. I saw that there were several main stumbling blocks among the remnant regarding my departure to the Church of Wells. I will briefly describe them:

1.     Misrepresentation of the Church of Wells: I have elaborated in an earlier writing on the large amount of demonic slander under which this church is buried. Single witnesses around the nation who have connections to family members at the Church of Wells or who have come out from the Church of Wells have turned the remnant nearly altogether against this Church. The Church’s integrity with regard to the fruit of their lives and doctrine has been compromised in the eyes of all such that the Godliest among us fail to see the Spiritual realities which are present among this Church because they have failed to follow due process, specifically, they have never even spoken at length to one or more of the elders or the brethren at the Church of Wells. To summarize, the devil has succeeded in convincing the remnant through various misrepresentative reports that the Church of Wells is not pleasing in the eyes of the LORD.

2.     The Doctrine of Conditional Eternal Security: The second main stumbling block is the doctrine of conditional eternal security which is clearly portrayed in Scripture in the eyes of all who have in sincerity sought the heart of the LORD through His Word on this matter. This doctrine is summarized as the comprehension of the potential for final and damnable apostasy in a regenerated individual. The result of one taking heed to such a warning is the casting of the gaze upon the risen LAMB of God with simultaneous fleeing all that is of the flesh and the world. For as for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children; to such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them (Ps 103: 15-18). The fruit of this doctrine is that souls are driven to seek and sow after those things of the Spirit, and there is no peace or rest of soul given in the midst of seeking and sowing after the flesh. It is a doctrine which exemplifies that holiness of the LORD which cannot but be maintained. For if we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself (2 Tim 2:13). Scores of apparently God-fearing Calvinist teachers of this day have so misunderstood the Scripture’s teaching of the latter day apostasy among the regenerate to the extent that they would presume this doctrine to compromise both the sovereignty of God and the exclusivity of salvation by grace through faith. For these reasons, those holding to this doctrine, including the Church of Wells, are seen as heretics or at best misinformed.

3.     Secondary Stumbling Blocks: As a result of the former stumbling block, several other stumbling blocks have arisen, which have, at the present time, put a “lock” on the minds and hearts of the remnant that they may not understand certain beliefs and convictions of the Church of Wells. These stumbling blocks are, at the present time, severely dangerous to the eternal state of souls among the remnant and will become increasingly so as iniquity abounds and the love of many waxes cold. For many false prophets have arisen and have deceived many (Matt 24:11-12). We are surely in the latter days, and all who have sought and perceived the heart of the LORD see that He is grieved, not for the dead bones of the unconverted alone, but for the impalement of His bride: her state of Spiritual slumber and carnality. The voice of the Spirit to the people of God today is that which was spoken to the Churches of Ephesus and Sardis: to remember therefore from whence she is fallen, and repent and do the first works, to strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die, for her deeds are not perfect before Him. (Rev 2:5, 3:2-3) If she does not repent, the LORD will SURELY remove her candlestick out of his place, except she repents. The voice of the LORD is one of righteous judgment against the slothfulness of His people at the present time. It is a Sword of love that proceeds from His mouth to quicken that which has died, to circumcise bitter roots and satanic snares, to revive and renew in the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit… It is a HARD WORD that the LORD speaks towards His bride, yet if she does not heed this Word unto obedience she will perish! Many Calvinists throughout history perchance have made it to glory, for they have abided with the dear Savior till the end, heeding His warnings in the Spirit, been subject to progressive sanctification until they saw His face, but in this wicked age, when countless certain men have crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only LORD God, and our LORD Jesus Christ (Jude 1:4), such a doctrine as unconditional eternal security can lead to the confusion of many core doctrines of Christ and eventually the damning of apostate souls deceived into receiving the grace of God in vain.

-        The Forsaking of Idolatry of Carnal Family: To summarize, the teachings of Scripture are remarkably clear that when authorities, specifically earthly fathers and mothers, threaten the Lordship of Christ in the life of a disciple, that disciple is to have previously counted the cost of discipleship such that he/she is able to forsake in the heart, even to hate, the carnal remains of such authorities. This is a core doctrine of Christ, and recall that we are to teach His saints to observe all things whatsoever He has commanded us (Matt 28:20). Our Christ has declared that He is come to send fire on the earth; and what will He, if it be already kindled? He had a baptism to be baptized with; and how He was straitened till it be accomplished! Suppose we that He is come to give peace on earth? He tells us Nay; but rather division: for from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. (Luke 12:49-53) Such division in the family, when we comprehend the potential for apostasy and backslidden states among the regenerate, MUST be considered possible, yes, even likely, yes even necessary, among regenerate families, when certain members refuse to heed the Spirit’s voice unto repentance. When saints differ in their soul’s hearkening unto the LORD, they will surely be divided. When a [regenerate] father or mother leads against the Spirit-wrought conviction of the son or daughter, not only is the son or daughter permitted to bypass the rule of the parent(s) but for him/her not to do so would be his/her own forsaking of the LORD in the stead of familial idolatry. Regardless of whether parents are regenerated or not, the offspring must forsake in the heart, perhaps resulting in an outward manifestation, all to follow Christ, including the authority of parents in those cases specifically where the Spirit and Word’s lead is compromised therein.

-        The Rejection of the Church of Wells by the Remnant: A main stumbling block for many saints is the simple fact that the remnant has rejected the Church of Wells. Especially from a Calvinistic mindset, which bears the conviction that all who are truly regenerate are, essentially, following Christ in the power of His irresistible grace, it cannot be fathomed in the odds of such reason that the majority opinion of the remnant herself could have erred in judgment on any matter. However, it is not so that the modern remnant is in good standing before the LORD. She is indeed lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked (Rev 3:16-17).

There is a state of affairs that I desire for you to understand beloved: The bride is asleep as a foolish virgin, and her condemnation awaits her lest she repent. The love of Christ towards her at the present time is the Spirit’s Word of rebuke to her soul and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon her that she may be revived. Calvinists have three severe blind spots:

I.                Calvinists do not believe that the bride can be in a state of carnality. BUT SHE IS!

II.             Calvinists do not believe that regenerated souls can fall away. BUT THEY CAN!

III.           Calvinists do not see revival, wrought by prevailing intercessory prayer, as necessary for the salvation of the bride, but rather a blessed option. BUT REVIVAL OF A SLEEPING VIRGIN IS NECESSARY FOR HER SALVATION!

     Though many Calvinists would affirm that the bride and her constituents may fall into temporary states of carnality, their core heart convictions frequently reflect these three principles and thus defy Scriptural Truths and the Spiritual realities of our times. The result of these blind spots is that countless Calvinists fail to understand the convictions and the behaviors of the Church of Wells. And thus, I earnestly entreat you, dear saints, to examine the Scriptures, and to seek the heart and mind of the LORD with regard to eternal security and the righteous loving judgment of the saints. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore, I plead with you dear saints, to suffer according to the will of God and in doing so commit the keeping of your souls to Him in well doing as unto a faithful Creator (1 Pet 4:17-19).

A Brief Testimony of what I Beheld in the Midst of the Church of Wells

     I was initially greeted at the airport by the couple who took me into their home. There was a brotherly love and unity of spirit between us from the start, which has only grown over time as we have tasted of Christ from one another. We arrived at the store where other brethren were present, some of them with tears. As I entered they greeted me with a tender love and joy, yet a quiet sobriety and empathy, many of them having heard reports of the fire I had gone through. Brother Sean and Brother Jake proceeded to pray earnestly: cries of praise to the Lord for His deliverance of my soul and body to this place, and then to cry out with load groans and tears for my family. The cries and groans of all the brethren mingled together in a unified desperate release of the burden with regard to my family. I was astonished and overwhelmed by the magnitude of my burden which they had been carrying. I understood from their spiritual demeanors that they loved my family as much as I did, and carried my burden in no smaller degree than I had. Indeed this had been the main pain in my heart in these past two months until this day. I recalled visions I had in the past of the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held under the heavenly altar and which cried out “How long, O LORD, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth” (Rev 6:9-10) and beheld the similitude of these cries that went out before me. O how these people love my family!

Now I will proceed to briefly describe fruits which I have observed here:

1.     The Love of the Brethren: I had expected it in faith, and was joyed to see the love between the brethren in this place. Each day souls burdened both Spiritually and/or physically are lovingly tended to by the others. It can be truly said that the unruly are warned, the feebleminded are comforted, the weak are supported, and patience is shown towards all men (1 Thess 5:14). Truly these saints lay down their lives for one another. The strong do bear with the infirmities of the weak, and not to please themselves. Each one pleases his neighbor for his own edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself; but as it is written, “the reproaches of them that reproached Thee fell on Me”. (Rom 15:1-3) Those who faint under affliction of heart, feeblemindedness, and Godly fear are tenderly shepherded by the elders who make effective use of Spiritual discourses and prayers to oversee the souls of the flock under the exalted Shepherding of Christ. The brethren have all things common, parting their possessions to all men, as every man has need. They break bread from house to house, eating their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. (Acts 2:44-46) It has been remarkable to see how the LORD does provide financially for these brethren: for God has shown Himself able in making all grace abound towards us such that we, always having sufficiency is all things, may abound unto every good work (2 Cor 9:8). Many of these brethren have at some point given up large amounts of financial assets on behalf of the church, and thus all are, in the end, eased by an equality, that at the present time the abundance may be a supply for the want of others, that the others’ abundance also may be a supply for their want: that there may be equality (2 Cor 8:14).

2.     An Emphasis on the Atonement: Though reports do suggest that the Church of Wells tolerates a form of work-righteousness Gospel that has drifted from the only Gospel of grace through the atonement, I have found in this place an overpowering emphasis on the atonement and the power for righteous living that is both needful and enabled thereby. The first solemn assembly I attended was the most blessed service I had attended in my life. All three elders preached with Sean Morris giving the main burden: the promise and the call of the Gospel evidenced from the life of Moses, the enthronement of Christ, the need for restoration of the New Covenant promises/revival among the remnant, the need to remember and call upon the known sanctifying work of Christ in our souls…the service was several hours long. I was in awe at the prayer for the remnant that was made during the service by brother Ryan. These people are slandered for lovelessly judging the remnant, yet I observed a deep burden of love for the remnant among these brethren. Their souls yearn and cry out for the remnant with weeping and deep fervency. O how they love you beloved!

3.     True Eldership: There were many more blessed characteristics of these elders to be observed here in the midst of the Church than from afar, though I had rejoiced in my soul from afar to see how they had gloried not after nor placed confidence in their flesh, but rather held fast to sound doctrine and sought to find the true interpretation of Scripture in the power of the Spirit, taking heed unto themselves and the doctrine; continuing in them: for in doing this they do save both themselves and them that hear them (1 Tim 4:16). The unity of these elders, their subjection one to another in the fear of the LORD, the manner in which their Spiritual strengths overlap, coexist, and standalone brings glory to the LORD who Himself by the exercising of His own will brought and kept these three together. Sean Morris is the true doctrinal leader, fearlessly bold as a lion, yet poor and needy, fervently loving each sheep, oft in prayer, before the LORD. The wisdom, revelations, convictions, zeal, and boldness of this elder have waters that run deep from the Person of Christ. He is faithfully guiding the brethren through the Word and “The Condescension of God”, a Spirit-led writing which unfolds the significance of much of the inspired all-sufficient Scriptures. Ryan Ringnald is the true instrument of the exercising of the righteous judgments of the LORD. His Spiritual discourses come spontaneously for the exhortation and uplifting of the saints. His rule over the saints is well, and he has not withheld the righteousness of God from the assembly. His burdens surround the Spirit’s Word to the churches to wake up and be found faithful, the Spiritual implications of certain events in Scripture and church history, the voice of the prophet Rolfe Barnard, the calling out of particular heresies/heretics with all due diligence, among other things. Jake Gardner is the true father figure, the one who spares not from declaring the sins of God’s people, yet maintaining peace with all men as far it is possible. He is a man of understanding who draws out the Counsel of a man’s heart which are as deep waters (Prov 20:5) resulting in encouragement of weary saints and rebuke of the unruly. These attributes are of course overlapping among the three of them, and there exist among them common burdens of the LORD: necessary revival, intercession for the saints, pouring out their lives as drink offerings on behalf of each soul in their congregation, laboring in WORD and doctrine… God only knows the hours daily spent in prayer among these elders. Their call to each saint here is, “You have all of my loving service, impartation of doctrine, and intercession before the LORD. I am but an unprofitable servant”.  I believe there is more I will learn in the time ahead of His grace towards these elders. There is a deep honor and Godly reverence among the brethren here towards these elders.

4.     Devotion to Prayer and the WORD: The brethren here are devoted exclusively to following the WORD of God and prayer. Carnal conversation is rare or altogether absent. The WORD of God dwells richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in their hearts to the LORD (Col 3:16). The brethren meet together for hours in the large assemblies to pray together for revival, the remnant, family members, and the needs within the congregation. Smaller groups meet daily within homes to pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints (Eph 6:18). The manner of prayer is fervent and zealous: travailing intercessory prayer. They do follow in the steps of Christ, Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared (Heb 5:7). The cries of these saints in corporate prayer does shake the buildings at their foundations.

5.     The Maintenance of Holiness/Purity within the “Camp”: The permeating love for the LORD Jesus, hunger and thirst for righteousness, refinements through afflictions and persecutions, devotion to the core doctrines of Scripture including present-progressive salvation, the accountability and subjection one to another and to the elders, and the sacrificial brotherly watching of the others’ soul has resulted in a God-glorifying purity of this camp. If ever a brethren contains an evil heart of unbelief, they are disciplined that their flesh may be destroyed and their souls saved on the Day of the LORD. Those that repent are fervently restored. These brethren offer loving rebukes and exhortations one to another daily, lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. I have also observed a heightened intensity of the LORD’s intolerance of sin within this Church. The Spirit of God within these saints powerfully chastens and strives against sin through the WORD of God, for these brethren do seek to consecrate their lives for His appearing. The Spirit of the LORD does not tolerate wickedness in this camp!

6.     Evangelism: Contrary to popular opinion, there are souls being saved in our midst! Souls do seek the LORD at the present time as a result of the revelation of Truth from within this place. Though the violence of the masses and the gates of hell are opened against this place, she finds favor from the blind, poor, needy, destitute, sick, and lonely from among the lost. These lost do stream to this place because Christ is among His people here!

7.     Ingathering of the Remnant: Just as all those who were distressed, discontented, and indebted gathered around King David at the Cave of Adullam, the starved, scattered, lonely, and dissatisfied remnant does one-by-one find its way to this place. It is starting to happen!

“² Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.³ For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.⁴ In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the Lord their God.⁵ They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.⁶ My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.⁷ All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the Lord, the habitation of justice, even the Lord, the hope of their fathers.⁸ Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks…²⁸ The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God, the vengeance of his temple.” (Jer 50)

8.     Singleness of Heart (Acts 2:46): Never before have I observed such perfect unity of mind and heart among brethren in the apostles’ Doctrine, the Doctrine of Christ. These brethren do stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel (Phil 1:27). With one accord does their resolve to mourn with God over the fallen state of His people sound from their prayers. Indeed His promise in His New Covenant was to give His people one heart and one way that they would fear Him forever for their good and that of their children after them (Jer 32:39). He is turning to them a pure language that they may call upon the Name of the LORD, to serve Him, with one consent (Zeph 3:9)!

9.     Fervent Familial Love: The mutual love and respect between husbands and wives in this place brings much glory to the LORD! There is an attitude of servitude, of placing the others’ needs, especially Spiritual needs, as a foremost priority. The husbands deeply love their wives, wash them daily in the WORD of God, while praying with and for them with all earnestness and tenderness. The wives harbor a deep soul-seated reverence towards their husbands, looking to them as their God-given priest heads whose authority will be divinely utilized for their continuance in the faith and ultimate salvation. It is not uncommon to see couples alone together tenderly exhorting one another with much love, joy, and peace in Christ. Indeed it has been a great blessing to see. Additionally children are given high priority in the home with regard to Scriptural training and instruction. Childishness and silliness is not condoned or smiled upon, but rather subjected to the fear of the LORD: “Come ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD” (Ps 34:11). Contrary to other children of professing Christians whom I have spent time with, the children here know that they are lost. When I have asked several of them, “Do you believe in Jesus?”, responses I received are, “No, not yet” or “I am still lost”. The essence of true conversion is so thoroughly manifested in this place that the children are exceedingly aware of their depravity! The hand of the LORD is upon several of the children in our midst for they have been enlightened to the judgment of the LORD against their wicked souls and to the salvaging of their souls that is to be found in the Gospel of Christ if they would, yes, if they could, in His Divine providence, believe!

10.  Sober and Biblical Judgment of Church-wide Status: Though the aforementioned attributes of moral splendor could result in an unrighteous pride or church-wide exaltation and glorying, the elders in this church do not think of themselves more highly than they ought, but do think soberly according to the grace and faith granted to them and by the standard of a Church laid forth in Scripture. (Rom 12:3) The elders do remain in great angst and in a straitened state until the Spirit be poured out upon the church from on high. They do comprehend that distance between where we are and where the Scriptures portray that we ought to be for both revival to ensue and the enduing from on high to come upon us and from the empowered state of possessing these. They continually entreat the LORD for the Spiritual gifts, for signs and wonders and miracles, specifically that the Gospel may be sent out in power and authority throughout the world. The single heart’s cry in this place is: LORD come in power! Send forth Your Spirit! Perform signs and wonders that Your Gospel may go forth to the ends of the earth!

“²⁴ And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, Thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: ²⁵ Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?²⁶ The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ.²⁷ For of a truth against Thy holy child Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,²⁸ For to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done.²⁹ And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy Word,³⁰ By stretching forth Thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Thy holy child Jesus.³¹ And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4)

A Poem: Here in the Midst of the Church of Wells

Here in the midst of the Church of Wells
Of good fruit, brotherly love, the doctrine of Christ I must tell:
Stronger than ever I have clung to His atonement by grace through faith...
Holding fast to Christ, laying hold of eternal life, ready lamps garnished with oil we do make.
Forsaken, buried under heaps of Satanic slander we do pray
for reawakening of the sleeping bride, for revival of the New Covenant among the regenerate, yes, before Him these we lay.
Righteous judgments, mercy and love, these do we seek to render.
Tenderly and violently slay the carnal soul of the pretender
that in the end the flesh may be destroyed and the spirit spared.
The eternal Lordship of the only Potentate who dwells in unapproachable light these saints have declared.
His peace and love within me do daily grow, no mistake have I made in coming here.
There is no where else I would rather be than with His disciples who have counted the cost for Him alone must I fear.
Poor and needy lost souls, and distressed, discontented, and indebted saints do stream to this city
for the great Shepherd of the sheep, starved and scattered on the hills, He does lead with great pity.
Among the princes of His people, His elders over His flock, we see Him exulted and ascended
for these do watch over our souls, laboring to present every man perfect, yes, it is possible, for His Spirit has descended.
We call out for judgment, we bear the burden of the LORD
that this generation of saints may not perish in the way but return by the power of His WORD.