TheWay

Narrow is the way:

Yes, the way remains narrow, and few are those who find it. Simply because, the Bible tells us so.

Obviously, those who make it are those who can be spiritually called (not branded) ... the remnant of God. Remember, Jesus' flock is always small according to scripture (that's tiny, little, minute, wee - ya ken whatta mean!). To many, this notion is unpopular, especially in this day of "think big", mega-church attendance, and the 'gospel of prosperity' peddling! Reason ... because the word 'small', little' and 'remnant' do not sound trendy nor do they "go with the flow" (they don't bring in the bucks or the applause of others, in other words), and those few who hear and follow the voice of the great Pastor (that's our shepherd - the Lord Jesus Christ of scripture) is both a rock of offence and a stumbling block to the masses. Simply because our Creator will never fit in with "our" agenda while He has cut everyone out of His, until, when and if, they come and fall on the His Rock.

Yes, ROCK OF OFFENCE and STUMBLING BLOCK! Did you really get that!? The reason some may snub and ostracize you because it snubs the truth which you may stand for.

It says (that's the word) ... "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake."

That's for Jesus sake! Is this the gospel you have been called to? The unpopular, raw and base version? Whose a candidate for this kingdom anyway?

"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets." Or ... "for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."

It's so easy to take the cosy, wide road which welcomes and entertains everyone at no real cost or cross to bear.

"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."

Meaning, there is great disdain on anyone categorizing themselves as just pilgrims passing through this life, opposed to those who market a religious show-piece for (temporal) "spiritual" affluence and admirability.

His way (that's our Maker's) is contrary and even foolish to the things of the world. Oh, how the Evangelical Movement (the Mainstream - Comfortable - Church) continues to follow the wide road that only leads one way ... down. Accommodating all that is false and apostate. As it celebrates it's contemporary, up-market, funky image (how it can change to suit the times but refuses to change to suit the Saviour) and flaunts it's relevance in the world (making it apart of the world).   While the remnant are in it but not of it, choosing the cross above prosperity, popularity, prestige, fame and recognition. Who is really on the LORD's side? Who is really willing to fall on the Rock instead of the Rock falling on them?

Yes, time will tell and time is telling, as religionists show their true colours by placing their blind allegiance to their flag, their country, their Caesar, and their spiritual professional ("Christian" guru that is), above the kingdom. Labelling anyone who remains in the wilderness as irrelevant, weird, cultic or "off the rails".

Appealing unto Caesar:

You know a scripture Christendom is gooey over and quoting a lot at present (in order to seduce the Pilgrim Church into getting involved in politics and rallying around social causes) is by stating how Paul appealed to Caesar. The notion being ... if Paul can appeal to Caesar then this gives licence so the elect can challenge (or force) the State or society to change it's stance on morality and decency, believing we are doing God and "humankind" a good turn in the process.   The truth is, we cannot change society. It is not our call. Neither is it our call to reform nations (or apostate churches for that matter), but to make disciples out of (out of) them ... people who will deny all for the gospel, and follow the Saviour.

Yeah, Paul appealed to Caesar all right! However, let's look at this in line with the true context of Acts and not to suit some wannabe or religious agenda. Let's see if Paul really went to Rome to tell Caesar what a naughty empire he was governing at times, and how it could be improved or fixed-up by listening to his heavenly advise?   Let's examine the whole context of why Paul was appealing to Caesar and help knock another Golden Cow of its perch in the process (should you find this correction true)? Here are the references (only found in Acts) to weigh up in the light of the full counsel of God:

Acts 25:11. "For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar."

Remember, here was an innocent man who was being condemned by his Jewish kinsman as the lowest of the low, just because he was always ready to point out the error of their way and point them to the true prophet who came as Messiah and Redeemer. Paul was choosing another authority, above the corrupt Jewish Heirachy, to the very top in the world ... Caesar! Who could argue with Caesar if Paul proved to be innocent and above blame?

Acts 25:21. "But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar."

Paul's heart was for Israel. However, Israel's religious hierarchy despised him as they did His Savour, because the truth meant their job was in jeopardy due to the fact that the old Levitical priesthood had been done away with at the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth (Heb. 7:11). These Blokes were so hard against the truth, and fanatic for their obsolete religion, that a number of them even swore an oath refusing to eat or drink again, under a curse, until they put Paul to death (Acts 23:12). In other words ... Paul was not the religious fanatic, they were! Moreover, this is religion at it's worse, showing it's true (crazy) colours when the chips are down, and when truth can never be traded with error. Yet Paul would not use this against his kinsmen as his desire was to win them.

Acts 28:19. "But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of."

Under Caesar (and being a Roman citizen - Acts 22: 25-29) Paul was granted Roman protection (Acts 23:27). This was his right and privilege as a Roam citizen, which Paul exploited to the fullest, for the sake of the gospel.

Acts 23:27. "This man (Paul) was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman."

Conclusion: The Jewish Concision were trying to block out Paul (getting rid of him) in order to silence the truth. Paul took advantage of his Roman citizenship (going right to the top) in order to secure Caesar's protection so his life would be spared in order for the gospel to proceed. Also, this was a two-prong blessing as God had called Paul to Rome (Acts 23:11) and this could strategically open the way for the Gentile world to hear the truth of the good news, fulfilling Acts 13:46 and Gal. 2:8. If the Jews could get Rome's backing against the "new sect" (Acts 28:22) as they did when the got rid of it's leader, Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 4: 27-28), then think of how effective the world would've been in getting rid of the way and stifling the gospel? It was all a matter of Paul out smarting politics by the wisdom of God, using the very political platform which could easy work for or against him (Rom. 12:4).

Acts 25:25. "But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him."

On a grand summation, and proof Paul was on the right track, the book of Acts finishes on this wonderful note from Rome:

"Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God (not political or religious reform, social change, or 'Kingdom Now' theology), and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ (not a church, spiritual club, or religious organization) with all confidence, no man forbidding him."

If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight:

You know scripture tells us to pray for those in power in the (civil) world. It also commands the disciple to pay his way (not ripping off the system but paying his taxes and being a loyal citizen) as I also have kept repeating Paul ... to use the world but not abuse it! Scripture does not say to rebel against the king or speak evil of dignitaries. Or over-throw those in power whether they are for evil or for good. The complete opposite in fact. Did Jesus ever preach against this brutal Emperor or his illegal occupation of "the Holy Land"? Did Paul ever preach against a tyrant called Caesar Nero?   No, he appealed unto Caesar as we already know and was never guilty of going after, or going against his fellow Jewish kinsman, even though they went against him and the church, in such a blood thirsty and barbaric way.

Acts 25:10. "Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest."

Did the early Christians ever support one nation rising up against another or take part in it? You will not find record or a shred of evidence to this cause in the whole New Testament.

I do not know George Bush or Tony Blair, or what forces are swaying them, nor what is in their heart. However, nowhere does scripture say we (the remnant called out) are to support or go to war for a government. What George or Tony does is their prerogative, as long as we (the called out) are in obedience to our call ... praying for governments, so peace can prevail, and the gospel can go out unhindered. Immensely simple really!

The New Testament is clear that we are not to take up the sword as the trained professional solders are ordered to, and methodically, clinically and calculatingly destroy other lives. However, it does make provision for a believer to carry a sword (Luke 22:36). This is the only scripture that patriots, 'kingdom-now' advocates, and puritans can find to justify their "holy" destructive crusades ("we are taking the world by storm - for Jesus" - or "defending our interests from theirs with God on our side"), where it is actually not a licence for making war at all, but provision for a believer to own a firearm. One must understand that in "Biblical" times in the Middle East, before the population explosion of man forced dangerous beasts out of the region, it was dangerous to take a journey from one region to another due to the odd man-eating lion or other predators lurking along the way. There was also the danger of bandits and robbers. A sword in the pouch could serve as a deterrent. It was also practical to own a weapon to hunt your own game for the family table. And what happened if a righteous man saw a woman or child in danger from some evil maniac and there was no one around to come to their rescue?

When solders came to the last prophet of the Old ushering in the New (as in the manner of the trend in Judea at the time) he said, Do violence to no man! In other words (further taken up by Jesus Himself) ... if you want to follow your new king, you now belong to His kingdom outside of mans, and therefore, as a servant of His, you will not fight! There was simply no need to ... the war had been won. It was and is ... finished!! Calvary was total and complete! Forever!

It is finished!:

I remember some time back a news report where a US army captain or NCO, or someone, was being interviewed in regards to the action they were taking in Iraq to justify a nation invading a foreign, sovereign, nation, without permission, invitation, or UN sanction (they can and will do this by the way, as Jesus said YE SHALL HEAR OF WARS and "nation shall rise against nation"). His explanation was (to words of this effect) ... "This is a holy war. We as US solders are Christian solders going against a heathen enemy for a righteous cause. By us taking bullets and rockets to our enemy it is God's way of bringing His wrath to them and recompensing evil. Before we go into combat we pray and ask God's blessing on our efforts and seek His strength and might to carry His plan forward."

Oh yeah! Who has brain washed these guys to that extent? Go and do your destructive acts but please leave GOD out of the picture and don't expect the true pilgrim's support to take out innocents along the way, causing mass suffering and misery, justifying it as war! I have seen all the "touching" photos of combat solders huddled around praying and doing the 'team (spiritual) bonding' thing (with a bible in hand); or stopping for a church service before action stations. I have also seen (which you may brush off as propaganda) the other side of the story. We are constantly being feed by the media this one-sided spin, about a righteous crusade against the forces of evil, when in actual fact they are fighting against a desperate, disadvantaged people who are using the most desperate measures to defeat a 'hi-tech', highly financed, occupation enemy, who they too see as the forces of evil coming against them, to force their corrupt system upon them, to feed and build on their own interests (ask the Vietnam decision maker, Robert MacNamara, what he thinks now?). The problem is many would rather allow the newsroom to sway their convictions (one way or the other - depending on who owns it) than the word of God.

Where in the New Testament is there Christian armies going against their enemies when we are told to love, forgive, and pray for our enemies? Where in the New Testament is the Way ever taking up arms to shake off the Jewish Zealots who where out to pay havoc and wast the Christians? Where in the Book of Acts, or the whole New Testament for that matter, are the redeemed recorded defending themselves or taking up arms when the chief terrorist Saul and his henchmen dragged families out of bed in the early hours of the morning to their fate? Or where is there one little mention or record of the believers being told to join in the insurrections against the (illegal) Roman Occupation of their land at the time, or organizing an uprising themselves against it, or arming their own "Christian" militia? You wont find it dear Saint because it is not there and is in total contrast to the gospel, and in total contrast from the words of John the Baptist at the beginning of the New Testament era when he addressed the solders of his day, "Do violence to no man", as already stated. To Jesus who said, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight". To Paul who said, "having slain the enmity" by abolishing it on the cross. To James who said, "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not." To Peter who said, "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."

Simply because, as a soldier of Christ, we fight the good fight of faith and know our fight is not against flesh and blood (did you get that ... NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD) but against spiritual forces, as also the weapons we use are not carnal (did you get that too ... THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT CARNAL) ... as bombs and rockets are replaced by the spiritual things which are mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds ... Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

As in the manner of Acts, when the chips are down ... "We ought to obey God rather than men"!

Sounds like the real enemy is within to me! Which needs dealing with spiritually! And constantly! No gun or grenade will work against this one. Going after our enemies (flesh and blood enemies we are to love and forgive and pray for) are just a diversion and trick to make us part of the problem and not part of the answer, by making us react emotionally or intellectually and not spiritually. The answer ... the cross, the cross, the cross!!! Not as a banner to wave, or adornment to be worn, but as something to be applied to every ounce of our carnal nature lurking in our own lives, that we may be crucified with Christ, to the world and the world to us. And if you are reacting to what I have just written, then may be it is the old man (the carnal 'self' nature) raising it's ugly head again, because within our wicked uncircumcised hearts we would rather do it "our"/mans way and not God's.

In other words ... the forces of evil we are coming across and discern by the Spirit (not physical senses) is the spiritual opposition placed on us by an invisible army of spiritual hoards, in cohesion with their leader Satan, in order to keep man confused, at loggerheads with each other, destroying each other, so that mankind would be diverted from the cross and not even survive to be given the chance of salvation. When a believer joins in any worldly cause he or she is in actual fact aiding the enemy's (the Devil's) onslaught to rob, kill and destroy. We, the true remnant are sent to bring life, light and truth; not condemnation, death and destruction.

"But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again (so much for 'seed faith' and 'prosperity teaching'); and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil (you wont be taught this at military academy, will you? And goes against the grain of Western Calvinistic doctrine)."

Yes, a narrow way! How narrow can it get? To this extent ... the dismissal of us, and to the manifestation of Him, with whom we have to do!

Back to John again, a lone voice in the wilderness ... pointing us to behold the man; the lamb of God! Who is beholding the lamb, and not a lion or a head and shoulder man of war, who knows how to conquoer the heathen by force, using the arm of flesh! John merely endorsed this simple message ... "He (the lamb) must increase, but (we) must decrease."

John was fading, as was the Old System of an eye for an eye and retribution to your enemies, to a new and living way going beyond just loving your neighbour; to loving those who despise and hate you. Moreover, serving our (worldly) masters with fear (not rebelling against them) even when they are froward.

The new message was now on the scene to be embraced by those called out ... to point us away from ourselves to Him, the Redeemer. Therefore, we as the remnant called out, are only to know this simple calling ... pointing people to Jesus. Which is contrary to our way, our answer, our doctrine, our opinion, our way of thinking. To remain safe in sound doctrine, we point folk to Him, the one and only mediator between God and man. Because there is another Jesus and another gospel out there, we make sure we point people to the Word of the word ... the Christ of the scriptures. Everything else we proclaim is to make folk think for themselves, and to expose the nonsense that has obscured Him (where opinion and personal prejudice, and anything else of self, not nailed to the cross, finds it hard getting in the way), by going to the word found in the scriptures for the answer/s.

"It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."

Don't follow me, or him, or her ... follow the Bible! Don't listen to me, or him, or her ... listen to Him! I don't have any answers let alone the answer. However, He does. We come into this world lost as orphans without a Daddy, and need pointing to our Father, who can only be found through coming through His Son Jesus ...

"Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father"!

Which means religion in every shape and form is totally redundant, and any other way to find God outside the Jesus of the Holy Bible, is a white elephant. Yes, it is finished!! Meaning, suicide bombers can drop their madness and fall on their face towards the one true God of heaven and earth, and cry out for mercy; and the Christian solder can leave his weapon at home and be a servant and not a killing-machine; and the religious professional can repent and admit that his job is superfluous, that he is only obstructing the kingdom from the masses by his stubborn refusal to yield to the simple truth; and the religionist (whether Catholic, Protestant, Byzantine, Evangelical, Puritan, Fundamentalist) can admit their doctrine and church is manmade, and becoming a child is all that is necessary in entering the kingdom. Yes, the way is narrow and His name is Jesus! As no man cometh unto the Father, but by Him.