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A friend from Europe made the following remark at the end of a recent letter. We include our response to the issue raised, which has application for everyone.
“I love ‘The Issues of Life’ but I think sometimes you are a little too aggressive. I know there is only one Truth and many times I feel like screaming at people for not seeing it, but some are more sensitive and ‘touchy’ than others.”
You are mistaken, Emanuela, in what you perceive us to be doing. We are not ever raising our voices at people who cannot see what we see. We know full well that we can only see by the grace of God, and if others are not given the same by Him, who are we to expect the impossible? Rather, we are contending with those who profess to see, but do not. There is a world of difference between what you think we are doing, and what we are actually doing. Jesus came to bring sight to the blind. It was written of Him: “A bruised reed shall He not break…” (Matthew 12:20). Yet He also contended “aggressively” with those who could not see though they thought and acted as if they could, and in false confidence withstood God and were contrary to His ways. Jesus called them hypocrites. We are doing the same thing. How? By Him. He yet lives. It is that simple. He lives in us. He promised He would so come.
“And truly I say to you, You will not see Me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he that comes in the Name of the Lord” (Luke 13:35).
Are we too aggressive? I want to ask you a question. Was God too aggressive when He sent Hurricane Katrina barreling into New Orleans and the Gulf Coast? How about when He sent Hitler to lead the Germans into conquering Europe and the subsequent slaughter, killing millions of Jews in the process? How about the more recent Rwandan massacres? How about Jerusalem in 70 AD, when the crosses of those Jews crucified were so thick a person could hardly walk around the city? How about the recent tsunami in Asia?
How about something more personal and individual, to help us consider what is really at stake? How about those to whom we speak that die, or suffer terrible diseases and untold hardships because they scoff at, or blaspheme, the Word of the Lord? How about Stan, who, because we warned him against following a false prophetess, kicked us out of his home, and later prophesied that I would die of a heart attack, and that Victor would be buried in an unmarked grave? Three years to the day of our first hearing of Stan, he died of a heart attack, and was cremated, his family doing so because they would not acknowledge or pay honor to the man he had become in following the false prophetess. It was his grave that was unmarked. Was God too aggressive?
How about Pascal, who came to us asking to receive the baptism in the Spirit? Because we were not free to lay hands on him he turned away in bitterness and sought the baptism for himself. He received an evil spirit instead, and though we tried to warn him of the wrong way he was taking, this spirit killed him within a short period of time. He was only 33 years old, and the doctors autopsying his body not finding a cause of death, concluded the cause was “spiritual”. Was God too aggressive?
How about Peggy, who had brain cancer? We spoke to her about repentance from her sins. She professed to be a Christian, and that she had no sins to confess. She said she also had “1,000 people praying” for her, and a pastor for guidance. She basically told us to go to hell. Her prayer partners and pastor led her into the grave a year later. Was God too aggressive?
How about Nathan, a fellow distributor of health devices and medical doctor, who was a very kind and helpful man to everyone? Yet he would not listen to or consider our gentle remonstrance of his teaching people that they could be whatever they put their minds to becoming, which is an evil, untrue, and harmful teaching that denies God’s sovereignty and goodness in that which He determines each person should have. But furthermore, Nate spoke things he should not have about God and Heaven, putting his nose where it did not belong, and when Victor gently wrote him about this too, he ignored our words again. Within a month he was dead of a heart attack. Do you think that God was too aggressive in doing that? Perhaps Victor should have spoken more firmly?
I could go on with many other examples of people to whom we have spoken that have suffered horrendously because of their attitudes and responses that have brought the wrath of God on them. (And those are just the ones we know, the tip of the iceberg.) Yes, this is the wrath of God. Who else is running the show? Why else do these things happen to people, Emanuela? Do you really believe there is no connection with the tragedies of life and our spiritual condition and response to the Word of God? Do you think He does not want people to know that they are destroying themselves? Do you really believe that He is not willing for us to speak against the evils that perpetuate these things, and to do so aggressively, with all our might? How else will people know, and possibly repent? How else will the simple be made aware? Do you think sinners will forsake their sins because God is such a nice fellow, like Santa Claus, Who will give them whatever they want if they are good? Foolish “Christians” might believe that, but the wiser-in-their-generation heathen know that things do not work that way. It is wicked bribery, to which God is immune.
I want to tell you something. People do not like our aggressive talk, but God loves it. He is very pleased when we, by His Spirit and in His righteousness, confront evil in no uncertain terms. It is a great joy to Him when people lay down their lives, knowing the ostracism and hatred the world will show them, to tell the world its sins, specifically so. Which Bible are you reading, anyway? Here is something in mine, which sums up what is happening, and the way things are, which is different than how you perceive them to be. Listen carefully:
Numbers 25:1-13
(1) And Israel lived in Shittim, and the people began to fornicate with the daughters of Moab.
Disobeying God, mixing flesh and spirit, the people went whoring after other gods, as we shall see.
(2) And they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
They committed fornication in the worship of strange gods.
(3) And Israel joined himself to Baal-peor. And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel.
God is angry with His people, and those who teach these things; do you believe that? Do you hear?
(4) And Jehovah said to Moses, Take all the heads of the people and hang them up before Jehovah against the sun, so that the fierce anger of Jehovah may be turned away from Israel.
His anger is fierce.
(5) And Moses said to the judges of Israel, Every one of you kill his men who were joined to Baal-peor.
Jesus said, “Fear Him Who can destroy soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
(6) And behold! One of the sons of Israel came and brought to his brothers a woman of Midian, before the eyes of Moses, and before all the congregation of the sons of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
When evil has spread as a cancer, people have no shame or fear of God or His servants.
(7) And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation and took a spear in his hand.
When Jesus drove the moneychangers from the Temple, it was said of Him: “The zeal of Your House has consumed Me” (Psalm 69:9).
(8) And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and pierced both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman, through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the sons of Israel.
By the aggressiveness of a man of faith, the plague of God was stayed.
(9) And those that died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.
No doubt those who died were offended with the “bad manners” of those who loved God, such as Phinehas.
(10) And Jehovah spoke to Moses saying,
God spoke to the one who faithfully delivered His “aggressive” judgments.
(11) Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the sons of Israel while he was zealous for My sake among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy.
A man turned away His violence by his zeal that was violent,
(12) Therefore say, Behold! I give him My covenant of peace.
and gained peace.
(13) And he shall have it, and his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the sons of Israel.
This is no small thing to God. How many other times have you heard of Him saying such a thing?
Emanuela, do you see or have some idea now of what is at stake? Do you think we discourage those after truth? That is not so; we encourage them. I know that we are encouraged as well. Enough is enough already.
“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people mourn” (Proverbs 29:2).
The world is following all kinds of false gods, and the worst of them is this false love that “respects” the individual and will not speak truth that is hard and requires repentance. Tell me how much God respected the residents of New Orleans, when their city was flooded? Do you think they were not warned about their evils, and the perilous condition of their city? Where was the false god of love when that warning was given? I will tell you – soothing everyone with lies, such as God would never leave them or punish them in their sins.
“They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14).
What? Have they not heard that His warnings are not empty or in vain?
“Turn at My warning; behold, I will pour out My Spirit to you; I will make My words known to you. Because I called, and you refused; I stretched out My hand, and no one paid attention; but you have despised all My advice, and would have none of My warning. I also will laugh at your trouble; I will mock when your fear comes; when your fear comes as a wasting away, and your ruin comes like a tempest when trouble and pain come upon you. Then they shall call upon Me, and I will not answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me; instead they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD. They would have none of My counsel; they despised all My correction, and they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own desires. For the turning away of the simple kills them, and the ease of fools destroys them. But whoever listens to Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil” (Proverbs 1:23-33).
Are the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast greater sinners than all others to suffer this judgment? No, and unless you repent, you will all likewise suffer and perish, as Jesus said, and yet says.
What are we talking about, “repentance”? We obviously are not talking about what millions of people think they have already. What we are talking about is this: A violent turning to God, not for a day, not dependant on how long your will can hold on and maintain enthusiasm, but forever, once and for all, nothing withheld from Him, but all being recognized as His, with His will being the one and only concern. Nothing less than this is worthwhile or acceptable. A complete sell-out and commitment to do what is right in His sight is the only way. It is true that only He can grant one this honor, yet we speak His living Word that brings things into being from things that do not appear. Therefore His power is present to fulfill.
And I want to tell you more. If the people of New Orleans persist in degenerate customs and practices including the gay parades, Mardi Gras, drunken revelries, sexual immoralities, and the religious whoredoms as practiced all over America, then we are on the record here and now saying that it will be flooded again, and this time it will never be rebuilt. Can man, in his arrogance, re-build that which God destroys for sin, without repentance from that sin? The President, Governor, Mayor, and “all the king’s men” cannot overrule Heaven, the throne of God, and His decrees.
Judgment is not here just for New Orleans. It is not here just for America. It is not here just for North America. Judgment is here for the world. Europe cannot get too cocky or high-minded while watching the collapse of the USA. Their day is here too. China may be waiting in the wings as the next superpower, but they ought not to think they will escape judgment. Truly, the whole world lies in wickedness, and is judged altogether. There is no righteous nation. There are no righteous people. Jesus said that there would not be faith found on earth when He returned. So it is.
What have you to say, Emanuela? Which side of the fence are you on? It is not possible to stay in the middle. The day for lukewarmness is finished.
Contending for the faith, executing His judgment, and rebuking the ungodly as a member of that great company of which Enoch prophesied, of those who love His appearing,
Paul
Emanuela’s response:
Hi Paul,
Thank you so much for your great writing. I totally agree with you and I came to understand that you and Victor are contending with those who profess to see and see not. Paul, I’m so sad because I wished there were a way to make people know. I know you are right, you are talking to people that think they know the Word of God but through their words it doesn’t appear to you. I don’t know the Bible as good as you do and as you know, there are many “false prophets”. I can only pray God to show me who is from Him so that I can trust this person. In your letters, there is a lot of authority and knowledge. I guess that’s why I can’t wait to read the next “Issue of Life” ….it’s like an addiction! Unfortunately, I don’t have a church to go to at the moment and I miss to worship with other believers. I read my bible, (NIV study bible – Zordervan) I pray and thank God for salvation. I know I’m a sinner and need His mercy. I thank Him for this wonderful life He is giving me, I pray, He will call my husband and my parents into His kingdom and always keeps my children.
Thank you for the testimony you wrote about Peggy, Nathan, Stan, etc…. I know and understand your message. Even if you don’t see it, please know that I do read all of your letters, I just don’t have the time to respond to every single sentence, I wished you were in town and could meet, I’m much faster talking than typing!
Well, I have to say Good night for the moment.
May God bless you…I know He does.
Thankfully
Emanuela
P.S. Sorry for my bad English….
Paul’s reply:
Good day, Emanuela,
You are most welcome to what we have to give you. It is our honor, duty, and privilege to share with you. Something you must also know is that God, Who has given us to see, has also not given others to see at this time. As Jesus said:
“He answered and said to them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given” (Matthew 13:11).
So, do not be too worried or bothered with the blindness of others. Consider that it is God, and not the people, Who is in control.
In this we can have peace, thanking God for the way things are. It does not mean we do not speak, because we are sent by Him to speak. How else will He judge (correct) others, and bring people into the faith? We do recognize that God rules over all, and brings each person to the knowledge of Him as God and Savior in his or her time. Everyone is here on earth by the will of God, no different than we are, those opposed to Him as well as those believing. Each has his or her purpose according to the will of God. Remember what God said to Pharaoh, “For this cause have I raised you up….”
Your English is fine, no need to apologize. Perhaps I should apologize to you that I have little to no ability to speak German? We do what we can. Perhaps someday we will see you. We would like that, very much. The Lord bless you Emanuela, to believe Him, and to know Him as He is.
Do not worry about finding “a church.” If you will forsake what you want to follow the Shepherd, He will take care of you, and all your needs. Do not seek man, seek God, and you will have 100 fold in this life, and will inherit life everlasting (Matt. 19:29).
By the way, the NIV is not a good translation. Are you reading in English? Do you have E-Sword (www.e-sword.net) on your computer? You can view many different translations there and can compare verses side by side. There are more accurate and truthful versions than the NIV.
Paul