The Church of Wells

Dear Friends,

     I turn 24 today, and the Lord has granted our family a great gift of humbling, brokenness, and hope in the sovereignty of our Lord over His church this morning. Many of you have seen dad’s recent face book post regarding my interaction and respect for the Church of Wells. Thank you to all who have prayed for our family. I must briefly convey, in my own words, that my wholehearted desire is to honor my father and mother, and to submit to them in the Lord. I am eternally grateful to all who have encouraged me to honor my parents. My parent’s grief had been primarily the private nature of my communication with the elders of this church. The complexity of the situation I faced, involving my own family and a few dear friends, and an overwhelming attitude of displeasure, initially, towards the church from those around me resulted in my going out on my own to discover the truth from these elders who ministered to me in love and integrity. It was never in my heart to dishonor my parents, and my parents and I would be willing to share the nature of the situation to all who would desire to know. I do not seek to justify my behavior, but rather do entrust myself to the righteous Judge, whose favor I seek. It is a true statement that from my experience with the elders, I do regard them as my own Biblical authorities, but this does not eliminate the presence of my parents as God-given authorities. I will submit to my parents in the Lord with God’s help. By God’s grace my dad, who now has a tremendous weight on him, has expressed a desire and begun to take steps to carefully search out this Church. I do not have all the time I desire to elaborate on the Church of Wells, but below is a brief summary of my convictions regarding them.

 Miraculous & Violent Opposition

     Since my interaction with the Church of Wells was discovered, I have received the most violent opposition that I have ever received particularly from those closest to me. It is miraculous in the sense that, I feel that were I under physical attack by a man or fallen into some sort of gross immorality the “protectiveness” or opposition against me would have been far less. I am astonished to see my beloved hear of but a few words on this incident, and immediately their “concern” flares up and their admonition, yes genuine admonitions, are intensely spoken aloud. The moment you hear of this church, there is an almost gut reaction, that “bad feeling”, about the church and my private interaction with them. There has been an instantaneous negative response from most of you before you have carefully searched out the matter. The Lord and my parents know the role for you to warn and protect me, and yet, never before have I been so quickly and thoroughly opposed by all of you. It is indeed miraculous. My only desire, by God’s grace, is to follow my Lord and align my life with His Word, and many have fallen away from me along the way, and now what I face has been excruciating, yet, I will not deny the conviction of my soul. For your sake I say that if I be wrong in what follows, then may the Lord discipline me in His justice and mercy, but please know that I believe I would die for my convictions about the Church of Wells. I love you all so much.

 Due Process

     I discovered the Church of Wells a few months ago through a dear friend, and was incredibly blessed from the start with the sermons and writings that I heard. Before the Lord, the sermons I heard were, to me, the most blessed sermons I had ever heard, filled with love, power, conviction, and a complete portrayal of the Counsel of the Word. Joyous edification was brought to my soul through the resources on the church’s website. However, in due time I started to read internet slander against the church, most of which I did not believe, because it was from ungodly sources, carnal men, those whose “god is their belly, whose glory is their shame, and who mind earthly things ” (Phil 3:19). The comprehension of the tremendous reproach and slander against this church created a great burden in my heart for their vindication. I would pray for the church with tears and groans for many hours, and it became a constant burden that I believe the Lord Himself had given me. Many of you may ask, “Why do you care about some random church that you do not know anyone from?” And to this I would respond that as I seek the heart of God in prayer and look to see where His countenance is turned, I believe that the heart of God is towards these people and His countenance is turned towards them. They are of great significance to my Lord, and thus my heart joined this church and my countenance turned towards them.

     With time, I became good friends with some people who had come out from this church, and I heard many more accusations against the church: namely that they preached wrath and not love, that they had ungodly zeal, and that they cut ties with their families. Since I trusted these friends, I believed their witness and my attitude towards the church changed, my burden waned, and I ceased to pray for them to the degree that I had previously. During this time, I believe that a Spiritual plague came over me. I had sinned against the Lord in failing to follow Biblical due process. I was not the only one who committed this sin, but rather, countless God-fearing regenerated saints now condemned to various degrees or ignored this church, specifically because of their own failure to carry out due process.

What is due process?

In order for us to believe a report concerning another (church/elder/individual/circumstance), even that of a Godly person, the matter must be established by Biblical standards:

1. With two or three witnesses

“This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” (2 Cor 13:1)

“At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.” (Deut 17:6)

“Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.” (1 Tim 5:19)

2. With careful searching and examination

“He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.”(Prov 18:17)

“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” (Prov 25:2)

3. With the exercising of Spiritual judgment

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thess 5:21)

“13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.14 But the natural man receivethnot the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,because they are spiritually discerned.15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? but we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor 2)

     I erred greatly in believing the reports I had heard, simply because they were from people whom I considered to be God-fearing saints. For me to respond in my own heart to these accusations to the extent that I abrogated much of the God-given love, burden, and regard for this church was wicked. It was no different than putting a person to death on the account of only one witness. Furthermore, were I to spread the reports I had heard, though many of you would consider me to be a genuine saint, that would not give you any reason to believe my report.For though I believe that I fear the Lord by God’s grace, I had neglected due process.

     The Spiritual plague that came over my soul could be characterized by a constant anxiety and discomfort in my heart, and an inability to pray as I ought. There was also a great sorrow over considering that these people, who were so devoted to the Word and zealous for the Gospel, could have drifted away in certain ways from the Lord. There was uncertainty in the midst of this sorrow, because deep down I was not fully convinced of the reports I had heard.

     Furthermore, if these people are of God, if I know God, by nature of my standing in he Lord, I hear them; if we hear not the people of God, we are not of God. This is the very means by which we know the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:6) If the church of Wells and the elders from there are of God, it is a terrible offense to cast them off or even to ignore them, when they bear the reproach of the Gospel. If these are indeed precious saints, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden, for me to reject them or disregard them is terribly unworthy and detestable to my Lord.

“None have followed this [due process] as they ought, but those that have are with us in heart unto this day (as far as my memory goes)” -Sean Morris

 Persecution

    The Church of Wells is buried under heaps of slander and accusation, and I am convinced that few saints, if any, have followed Biblical due process. For this reason, the church receives defamation and persecution not only from the carnal world, but from

 the regenerate! Saints propose that this church cannot possibly be in right standing with God when other noteworthy saints have rejected them. Saints render that the church is being persecuted for their unrighteous zeal and “extremity” rather than for the sake ofrighteousness. Indeed, this is what I myself had believed for a time. But let us consider the state of reproach that the Scriptures teach that all obedient saints will fall under. Yea and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus SHALL suffer persecution (2 Tim 3:12). Paul described himself and the apostles as those set forth as last, as appointed to death, made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men, fools for Christ’s sake, weak, despised, naked, buffeted, being reviled, but blessing, being persecuted, but suffering it, being defamed, but intreating, made as the FILTH of the world, and the OFFSCOURING of all things unto this day. (1 Cor 4:8-13) Christ promised His disciples that they would be hated by all men for His sake (Matt 10:22).He told us not to think that He came to send peace on earth: He came not to send peace, but a SWORD. He came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. (Matt 20:34-36) Christ Himself grew up before God the Father as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He had no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faced from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. (Is53:2-3)

“As many were astonied at Thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men:” (Is 52:13)

Dear friends, do WE bear this reproach. Is our reputation slandered? Are we the scum of the earth? Are we hated by all men? Do we follow in the footsteps of this Man of sorrows, Whose appearance was marred more than any man? Do we carry the Sword of His Word that kindles fire upon the earth? If not, how can we, according to Scripture, commend ourselves in His sight?

     As I read and hear the slander and observe the attitudes of the world towards the Church of Wells, I see near perfect parallels between these and the above descriptions of the inevitable persecution of the saints that the Scriptures describe. These people have no reputation. They have no standing in any religious circle or community. They have no title or fame. They are not honored. They are often ignored. They are, truly, the offscouring of the earth. I have never, in my whole life, seen a church bear the reproach that this church bears for the sake of the Gospel. I know that the reproach itself does not prove that they are of God, but it ought to make us tremble in fear. They bear such reproach in the name of Christ, and we do not…

     Furthermore, if these people are indeed suffering reproach for the sake of the Gospel, and we choose to disregard them, and place them in mental categories of unworthy, reprobate, extreme, or cultish, we are in direct disobedience to the Word of God which tells us to remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. (Heb 13:3) It is of utmost necessity that we determine, using Biblical due process, if this church finds favor in the eyes of God. We CANNOT remain in a state of uncertainty. This church is alone bearing the reproach of the Gospel, and if we have believed various witnesses, and if we have believed falsely about them to the extent that we forsake them and fail to regard them as suffering for the sake of righteousness, we are severely in the wrong. Thus, dear friends, I encourage you to examine this church carefully. Do not believe every report, but use Biblical due process to discover the Truth. Specifically, hear the witness of the elders and those in the church in addition to other witnesses. Examine the fruit of their lives. Examine their doctrine. Determine if their lives and reputation are in accordance with the lives and reputation of the New Testament church saints. Try their spirits with Scripture. Make Spiritual judgments with the Spirit of God within you and the Mind of Christ that has been granted to you. CAREFULLY SEARCH OUT THE MATTER. Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment (John7:24).

 My Own Convictions

     My private communication under difficult circumstances with those at the church of Wells, specifically the elders, was a part of my own careful searching out of these matters. Below is a brief list of my former concerns and how, before the Lord, I feel that the Church is vindicated in all these points.

1. Preaching wrath and not love

     I encourage you to hear some of the ferry/university/subway Gospel preaching from this Church from the bottom of the homepage of their website. You will find that their Gospel preaching is filled with zeal, the Word, tremendous love, and sincerity. Furthermore, if you hear the internal teaching at the church, you will find a remarkable emphasis on the love of Christ, a glorying in the atonement, and a complete devotion to the whole Counsel of the Word of God. To understand the heart of their preaching

against wickedness, read the blog, “When Jesus Came He loved Everyone”.

 2. Cutting ties with family

     In my conversation with the elders, it is evident that though many saints have believed that this church cuts off ties with families, it is often the case that the family cuts off ties with the individual who is a part of the Church because of their own resistance to the Word of Christ. I have seen deeper love within individuals of thisc hurch for family members than I have seen perhaps anywhere else. They love, pray for, and entreat their families with the Gospel with great burden and longing. Please

hear the message, “Hate Your Family” and read “The Reformed Family”.

3. Cultishness

     Many assume that the Church of Wells believe themselves to be the only true saints in the world. I found this to be false. Personally the elders have accepted me as a saint in spite of my evident weaknesses. A message I received from an elder: “Words cannot describe the love I have for all the saints scattered on the hills…” They truly do love and long for the remnant all over the world. Indeed many of the saints who are sources of great slander against them are still regarded in their minds as precious saints who have failed to follow Biblical due process. Their community exhibits a simple desire to conform their lives to the true Word of God, a desire which is altogether absent most everywhere.

 4. Undue authority from elders

     In the many accounts that I have heard from the elders regarding their exercise of authority within their church, I identified no instance in which a righteous and loving judgment was not made. In my personal interaction with them, they guarded my heart from exalting them, and turned my gaze towards the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Unlike many other Godly men, these elders did not glory in their flesh to any visible degree, but were willing to forsake the “pulpits of the world” as they stood against wickedness, false teachers, false doctrine, and false perspectives within other people whom they regard as saints. I must also convey that the unity of spirit, mind, and heart that I observed within the three elders far surpassed anything I have seen. There was no human striving or selfishness among them, but they subjected themselves one to another in the fear of the Lord.

5. Unwillingness to admit their own sin

     In my interaction with the elders, there was an exuberant humility, brokenness, meekness, and servitude towards all men. They elaborated on circumstances in which they subjected themselves one to another in the fear of the Lord and their open confession of sin before the congregation. One elder, Ryan Ringnald, accounted weeping with great fervor in repentance on multiple occasions.

“Truly, we do often confess to God – “O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee” (Psalm 69:5)! – but if God took away my sins, if God took away my foolishness, I am assured, on the contrary as mine accusers, that the reproach of which I now bear, and the suffering, and the danger, and the infamy, would not decrease but INCREASE!”–Sean Morris

6. Personal mistreatment of individuals who left the church

     I have heard many details regarding certain individuals who have left the church and presented accusations regarding their own exiting experiences. I do not seek to go into detail, but again encourage you to hear the witness of the elders on each particular circumstance.

7. Ungodly Zeal

     Please read my blog article, “O Man of God, Be Zealous”. In summary, the verses below I believe precisely characterize the zeal which I observe within the Church of Wells.

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” (Is 58:1)“

Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.” (Jer 48:10)

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” (2 Cor 6:17)

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matt 23:33-37)

8. Dangerous Doctrine

     I encourage you to carefully examine the doctrine of this church from their sermons, writings, and manifesto.The Lord has brought me to the point of agreement with this church’s view of eternal security by the conviction of the Word by the Holy Spirit. Please see my letter, “The Perseverance of the Saints”. PLEASE read the elder, Sean Morris’s, book, “The Condescension of God” and examine the doctrine in light of Scripture. I have read his stunning work and was blessed and edified to submit to the sovereignty of the Lord and with a gratefulness of Christ’s mindfulness and love for my soul. This book is hidden treasure, I believe worth more than the writings of Godly men of the past few centuries combined, and a gift from the hand of God to our generation. The doctrine of this church may seem extreme, but compare them with Scripture. The Scripture is extreme, dear friends. I believe with all my heart that the doctrine of this church is in line with the Word of God. Multiple reports from those from the church and those who left the church indicate that the church community is filled with tender love one-to-another, great devotion to the learning and teaching of the Word, and great conformance of the life to the Person of Christ.

Understanding our Times

     With great sorrow I could write a large amount on the state of our present day As I have sought the heart of the Lord in the past months, I see that He is tremendously grieved with the reign of wickedness, even among the regenerate. The wickedness of the unregenerate is apparent to many of us. We see the downfall of the remains of justice and Truth falling to the ground with lightning speed. “None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.” (Is 59:4) But the more horrifying state is that of the people of God. They are in a state of spiritual slumber. The walls of the temple of His house have been torn down. Carnality and lukewarmness reign. The Word of God is “sealed” in many ways, that is, we do not understand the full Counsel of His Word. Confusion and deception are rampant. Young men and women faint and stagger in this famine of hearing the Word of the Lord. The great apostasy is on the onset and numerous souls are drifting away, perhaps unto damnation, unless He reveals His mercy that they repent. Professing “Christian” systems have a form of Godliness with a simultaneous tolerance of wickedness, rejection of a wholehearted seeking of the Lord and the outpouring of the Spirit, and a reliance on man-made wisdom, protocol, doctrine… There are few true shepherds, elders, or overseers who truly watch over the souls of the flock of Christ. I could elaborate quite more…

Sword Between Brethren?

     One of the very unique attributes of the ministry of the Church of Wells is that it often brings a sword of division among the regenerate! Many use this attribute as means to disqualify their ministry assuming that such discord among brethren cannot possibly be from the Lord. But when we consider the state of the people of God,namely, that many are fallen into a state of slumber, passivity, and slavery to sin, we may readily understand why the Word of God would bring a sword between unrepentant regenerate people and repentant regenerate people. Even during the early days of the Corinthian church, Paul states that there must be also heresies among them, that they which are approved may be made manifest among them (1 Cor 11:19). The Scriptures tell us that the Spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils (1 Tim 4:1). As the Sword of the Word of God is delivered to the people of God, they will be unified in the bond of peace ONLY as they heed the voice of the Lord unto repentance and resulting obedience. When the regenerate refuse to repent, they cannot but be at enmity with the people of God who have sided with the Truth. The people of God are united in the bond of peace precisely because they have conformed their lives to the Word of God and the Image of Christ. But when hardness of heart and unrepentance is present in the midst of our gatherings, yes, there will be division.

“14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. 15Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no judgment.” Is 59

 A Warning 

     There is so much more I would like to say to you, dear friends, but I will close by saying that I believe with all my heart, as a result of my careful searching out, my seeking of the Lord in prayer, and my searching of Scripture, that the Church of Wells with their elders, are of God. I believe I would die for that statement. Furthermore, if these people are of God and speak by the Spirit of God, and we choose to resist them, to slander them, to ignore them, or to disregard them, we will find ourselves resisting the Word, Spirit, and work of our very Lord. We will find ourselves slowly drifting away into a state of Spiritual deception and complacency. And as we seek to justify such wicked behavior and to condemn the doctrine and practices of this church, we will find ourselves twisting and arguing away the Counsel of the Word of God. Far be it from us to falter in this way!

O dear saints, you must determine if the Church of Wells finds favor with the Lord.

Beware of Satanic masking of the truth.

Love in Christ,

 preethi 

The Perseverance of the Saints

The Perseverance of the Saints Letter Book by Preethi Moses Mercy David

A Poem 7/19/13

A Poem 7/19/13

(Rev 15:8, 1 Tim 6:16, Heb 12:15, Ps 97:2, Rev 21:5, Jer 2:13, Jon 2:8, Hos 11:10, 2 Cor 13:5, Hos 11:4, Col 3:1, 1 John 3:1-3, Ps 51:11, James 4:8, Luke 8:15, Zech 13:1, Rev 22:14, Heb 10:14, Luke 12:40, Luke 18:8, 2 Cor 10:5, Ps 27:4, 1 Thess 5:23-24, Heb 10:21)

All glorious art Thou, my King, within Thy temple; blazing with infinite splendor and unapproachable light.

O rid me Lord, of all bitter roots that rise up to defile many, that cast me into the night.

I bow before Thee, even in my ignorance, for thick clouds and darkness surround Thee.

Thy throne is founded by righteousness and justice; behold Thou makest all things new in Thy sovereignty.

May I not dig broken cisterns Lord and offer my soul unto vanity, unto another.

For they that observe lying vanities forsake Thy mercy, O Father.

Thou roarest like a lion and Thy children come trembling from the west.

Do I not see that Christ Jesus is in me, lest I fail the test.

Thou hast drawn me with cords of a man, with bands of love.

O Lord, I am risen with Christ; help me to set my mind on things above.

Behold what manner of love Thou hast shown me that I should be called Thy child.

May I cast my hope fully on the grace that is to be brought when I see Thee face to face in a short while.

For when Thou appearest, I shalt be like Thee, for I shall see Thee as Thou art.

Thus, Lord cast me not away from Thy Presence nor take Thy Spirit from me; may we ne’er be apart!

Help me to draw nigh to Thee that Thou might draw nigh to me.

Thy love, the glory of my Redeemer poured out as He was crucified, is all I long to see.

May my heart be good and honest, that I may keep Thy Word and bear fruit with patience.

For on this day, yes, today, a fountain is opened for the sin and uncleanness of Thy holy nation.

Blessed are them that do Thy commandments, who wash their robes in the blood of Thy Son.

For by one sacrifice Thou hast perfected for ever them that are sanctified; yes Thy work is done.

Please, O Father, make me ready to stand before the Son of Man, and may I be in faith when Thou return.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, O help us to discern.

I desire to dwell in Thy house, Father, all the days of my life, to behold Thy beauty, and enquire in Thy temple.

Preserve me: body, soul, and spirit, blameless at Thy coming for Thou who hast called me is faithful; Jesus, my High Priest over Thy house, Thou art my example.

When Teachers of Truth Turn Aside

When Teachers of Truth Turn Aside

     He had spoken to us words which were as precious morsels to comfort and refine our souls. He had led many to the way of righteousness. We had put our hope in him. We had loved him. We had cherished his presence among us. We had seen similitudes of the working of the Spirit in and through him. And now, he has turned aside. He has forsaken the way of Truth. His ‘love’ has gone cold. Our hearts would be shattered. His prior proclamations of Truth had built up the reserves of our souls and now his apostasy has resulted from his inner rejection of Christ. Shall we be shattered? Shall we faint? Shall we be scattered, torn, and slain? Are we, the sheep, now ruined?

“For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, then I could bear it; nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, then I could hide myself from him. But it is you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend; we who had sweet fellowship together walked in the house of God in the throng” (Ps 55:12-14)

     Dear saints, doctrinal apostasy prevails in our midst. And yet I feel convicted that even when doctrine is sound and within the confines of Truth, the apostasy of the soul may linger. We, the saints, have categorized teachers according to their doctrines. And we have set apart within our hearts those teachers who proclaim Truth to us. We invest our time in hearing from them. Indeed, we have little time to waste hearing those who are not yet brought into the full understanding of the sovereignty of God, His Gospel, and His work of regenerating souls. And yet, we must understand that knowledge of these core things is not enough. It is possible to speak in the tongues of men and of angels and to have no love (1 Cor 13:1). It is possible to have been enlightened, to have tasted of the heavenly gift, and been made partakers of the Holy Spirit in some sense and to yet be worthless, yielding only thistles and thorns, and eventually cursed (Heb 6:1-8). The saints who know their God will display strength and take action. Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days. Now when they fall they will be granted a little help, and MANY WILL JOIN THEM IN HYPRCRISY. (Dan 11:32-34). Perhaps those who join us in hypocrisy do not teach the Truth. Or perhaps they do teach the Truth, but they are devoid of the Spirit…

    How then shall we deal with the bewildering apostasy of leaders who have proclaimed the Truth of the Scriptures to us? How shall we resolve our anguish? Such apostasy may not have happened yet from our standpoint, but if and when it happens, how shall we abide in Him confidently and with full joy? The Spirit teaches me today that we are not to be shattered, because we know our Christ and His Gospel. We know that we are led by one Shepherd. He never fails. He never changes. For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us (2 Cor 1:20). Whatever Truth which we had been taught in the past by these now apostate leaders is from this immutable Shepherd of love. The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd (Ecc 12:11). All the Truth that has nourished our souls is from our good Shepherd. He remains the same. He has arisen from the grave and shepherds His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the Name of the Lord His God. And we, His true people, will remain, because at that time He will be great to the ends of the earth (Mic 5:4). He is our only Rabbi, our only Father, our only Shepherd (Matt 23:8-9). We were never following any other man. We were never called by any other Name than His Name. He is our banner. And though some teachers of His Word have turned aside, may we ever cling to Him and to His Word, yes even His true Word that had been stored up and treasured within us from the moment we had been taught in the past from these false teachers of Truth. These teachers are false in the sense that though they had taught the Truth, the outcome of their lives, that is, their evidenced apostasy, revealed that they were false (1 John 2:19). Our Lord’s sovereignty and constancy persists throughout all time, and into eternity. He is the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end (Rev 22:13). Although the apostasy of endeared leaders is as the bread of privation and the water of oppression, He, our Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but our eyes will behold Him (Is 30:20). We will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for we will all know Him, from the least of us to the greatest of us. This is what the Lord has declared to us because He has forgiven our iniquity through the blood of the Lamb and remembers our sin no more. (Jer 31:34) Since these teachers of Truth have turned aside, had they truly taught the Truth? The Spirit of God within us will bear witness with the Truth. For the anointing which we received from Him abides in us, and we have no need for anyone to teach us; but as His anointing teaches us about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught us, we abide in Him. (1 John 2:27)

    Dear saints, when teachers of Truth turn aside, we will cling to our Christ and to His Truth. May we not be shaken! We will not be ruined. His love will keep us.

No one go with me, still I will follow. No turning back. No turning back.

A Minor Defense of the Sovereignty of God

A Minor Defense of the Sovereignty of God

Dear Father,

     You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands; they will perish, but You remain; and they all will become old like a garment, and like a mantle You will roll them up; like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end. (Heb 1:10-12) As for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand; deliver us from the hand of our enemies and from those who persecute us. Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; save us in Your lovingkindness. (Ps 31:14-16) May Your grace grant us power to see a glimpse of Your true sovereignty here.

In Jesus Christ’s Name,

Amen

Dear Beloved,

     The repute of the sovereignty of our God has been compromised. Countless false notions of the nature of God reside in our midst. These notions take away from the full sovereignty of God and portray a god who is both impotent and less than omniscient. The true worship of such individuals is greatly inhibited, if not absent, for the Father is seeking worshippers who worship in spirit and in TRUTH (John 4:23). Our greatest authority on the nature of God is His Holy Word. Our God is the only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Tim 6:15). May the Lord open our eyes with His Word to His full sovereignty as we proceed.

1.     His Undefeatable Purpose

     God speaks to us saying, “Remember this, and be assured; recall it to mind, you transgressors. Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.” (Is 46:8-11) As God prophesied imminent judgment upon the nation of Israel He devised a plan against the whole earth; for His is the hand that is stretched out against all the nations. For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back? (Is 14:26-27)

He has spoken, He has purposed, and He has planned. His purpose will be established. He will accomplish all His good pleasure. No one can stop His purpose.

2.     The Mystery of His Sovereign Will in Christ

     Our God has power to subject all things to Himself (Phil 3:21). He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to the administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth (Eph 1:9-10) For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (1 Pet 1:20-21). The mystery of God, that is, His predestined purpose for mankind resulting in His glory, is fulfilled in Christ. We do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Cor 2:6-8) As Peter preached to the audience on the day of Pentecost, he proclaimed that this Man was delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, and was nailed to the cross by the hands of godless men who put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. (Acts 2:23-24). Grace was given to the apostle Paul to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. (Eph 3:8-12). Of this church, Paul was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on him for the benefit of the saints, so that he might fully carry out the preaching of the Word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Col 1:25-27). For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. (Phil 3:20-21) In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preaches to His servants the prophets (Rev 10:7)

3.     The Preordained Mystery of Lawlessness

     In His sovereignty, our God has predestined the presence of wickedness and those who practice such until the time of His final judgment. For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all those who would believe in Him (Rom 11:32). For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the Truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they may be judged who did not believe the Truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. (2 Thess 2:7-12) The great woman of wickedness: on her forehead a name is written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Rev 17:5)

4.     His Sovereignty over Human Souls

    Our God is not only able to effect His chosen state of every soul, but He has predestined some for wrath and appointed some for eternal life. What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharoah, “For this purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth”. So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. (Rom 9:14-18) His sovereignty over the souls of His people is complete. He works in them that which is pleasing to His will and He works in them to will and to act according to His good purpose (Heb 13:21, Phil 2:13). He directs their hearts into God’s love and the steadfastness of Christ, puts His Spirit within them, and causes them to walk in His statutes so that they will be careful to observe His ordinances (2 Thess 3:5, Ez 26:27). Though they were continually straying like sheep, now they have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of their souls (1 Pet 2:25). The sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him (Dan 7:27).

     The saints understand the sovereignty of God over souls. And thus they pray on behalf of the spiritual poverty around them, “You, O Lord, rule forever; Your throne is from generation to generation. Why do You forget us forever? Why do You forsake us so long? Restore us to You, O Lord, that we may be restored; Renew our days as of old, unless You have utterly rejected us and are exceedingly angry with us” (Lam 5:19-22). On the basis of the blood of Christ they pray, “The Lord bless you because He was cursed, and keep you because was forsaken; The Lord make His face shine on you because the Father turned His face away from Him, and be gracious to us because He suffered our condemnation; the Lord lift up His countenance on you because He underwent His Father’s just wrath, and give you peace because He underwent agony.” (Num 6:24-26)

²⁸ And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; ³⁰ and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Rom 8

Why is this a “Minor” Defense

     I have called this writing as a “minor” defense of His sovereignty. This defense is minor in comparison to the full Scriptural defense of His sovereignty. It is minor in comparison to the full outpouring of the riches of His power and majesty to the inhabitants of the world. His judgments, His salvation, and His signs and wonders display and authenticate His Sovereignty. In addition to the inerrant, infallible, inspired, all-sufficient Holy Scriptures, there are several means by which God can and will authenticate His sovereignty. The great miracle is His work of regeneration: removing the heart of stone, placing in the man the heart of flesh and His own Holy Spirit…the changing of the very nature of a man into the image of Christ by the power of His eternal Gospel!

“He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens" Rev 3:7 

Ways that He Authenticates His Sovereignty:

1.     The Love and Unity of the Saints

     Christ has given His people a new command, that they love one another, even as He has loved them, that they also love one another. By this all men will know that they are His disciples, if they have love for one another. (John 13:34-35). Christ prayed that the glory which the Father has given Him He has given to them, that they may be one, just as the Father and He are One; He is us, and the Father in Him, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that the Father sent Him, and loved His people, even as He has loved Him. (John 17:22-23)

2.     The Judgment of the Lord

     When the earth experiences His judgments the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness (Is 26:9). At the time of the end, another angel flies in midheaven, having an eternal Gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters” (Rev 14:6-7).

3.     The Signs and Wonders of the Lord

    One of the magnificent wonders of God is His creation. For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, having been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse (Rom 1:20). As Elihu tells Job, “Stand and consider the wonders of God. Do you know how God establishes them, and makes the lightning of His cloud to shine? Do you know about the layers of the thick clouds, the wonders of one perfect in knowledge, you whose garments are hot, when the land is still because of the south wind? Can you, with Him, spread out the skies, strong as a molten mirror? Teach us what we shall say to Him; we cannot arrange our case because of darkness. Shall it be told Him that I would speak? Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?...” (Job 37:14-20)

     Similarly, God performs signs and wonders through His people. Moses led the Israelites out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for 40 years (Acts 7:36). The people of God keep feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles (Acts 2:43, 5:12). For example, Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people (Acts 6:8). And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in Christ’s name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. (Mark 16:17-18) Tongues are a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe (1 Cor 14:22). For if the saints prophecy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among them. (1 Cor 14:24-25). He performs these signs and wonders in His own time and by His own will.

4.     The Steadfastness of the Saints in the Midst of Persecution

    The saints are to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that they may stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel; in no way alarmed by their opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for them, and that too, from God. (Phil 1:27-28) For the time already past is sufficient for them to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that the saints do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation and they malign them; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (1 Pet 4:3-5) The saints have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for them, leaving them an example for them to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously (1 Pet 2:21-23) They are to do all things without grumbling and disputing, so that they will prove themselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of the crooked and perverse generation, among whom they appears as lights in the world (Phil 2:14-15). When they are arrested and handed over, they do not worry beforehand about what they are to say, but say whatever is given to them in that hour; for it is not them who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit (Mark 13:11)

    Their faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one toward one another grows ever greater; therefore they are spoken of among the churches of God for their perseverance and faith in the midst of all their persecutions and afflictions which they endure. This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that they will be considered worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which indeed they are suffering. For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict them, and to give relief to those who are afflicted when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing our retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for the testimony of Christ spoken to them was believed by them. (2 Thess 1:3-10)

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! ³⁴ For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? ³⁵ Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? ³⁶ For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Rom 9