I am amazed today at the number of men who come to the podium in like manner declaring, “I’m in control here,” without authority or anointing to run The Church of God. It will ultimately destroy them also because God is not mocked nor intimidated by man. The number of religious leaders doing this today is appalling. Who gives them their authority? Who turned this authority over to them? Has Christ relinquished His authority and ownership of His Church which He purchased with His blood? Jesus said, “…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18b Man is without authority unless it is ordained by God according to the Bible.
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Romans 13:1-2.
It appears that many of the church leaders today do not trust the Lord to build His Church and they want to be mediators and not allow too much control by Jesus or they run the risk of loosing their positions and the power that they now enjoy. For many years the late Bishop A. J. Tomlinson year after year declared the office of General Moderator/ GeneralOverseer open and vacant for the purpose of finding the Lord’s will for the new assembly year. He would then step back from the podium and kneel and pray with the assembly for the selection to be made by them. In 1991 we had a change in that procedure and the position was never released for fear that someone other than the self proclaimed, committee appointed one might possibly be selected. This new procedure is being followed yet today by many of the factions calling themselves the Church of God for fear that things just might get out of their control and their positions be lost. If we are going to proclaim our authority without regard to the Bible we will self destruct and the judgment of God will come upon all who do such things. Groups are forming everywhere calling themselves The Church of God but one ingredient is usually missing from their ranks and that is LOVE, without which you can not be The Church of God regardless of the qualifications of your leadership. There are five major groups since 1991 who say they have the man chosen by God and given by the Holy Ghost to be their leader and some call him the “General Overseer”, “Regional Overseer”, Presiding Bishop and other names but they are without authority and their ship is sinking. God doesn’t work in such a confused mess that He will give five anointed leaders to oversee His Church while souls are dieing because of the mass confusion and going to Hell. Jesus’ prayer was clear in John 17:20-26.
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
Some of the self anointed, self appointed will not even talk to each other on the phone how can they believe they are the Church which Jesus died for? These are critical times for the covenant people of God and it is time to call a duck a duck and quit playing church games. These will soon be destroyed in their self righteousness and their souls will perish except they repent.
I believe the Lord is sick of this foolishness and they will proceed no further. While they proclaim, “I’m in control here,” the Lord is preparing a people that will love one another and permit Him to be the Head of His body, the Church. His Church can not cull out those who they do not like and condemn one another without proof while the Lord is looking down on His sheep that are abused by the Hollywood Preachers who have ability but no anointing or authority. He instructed us to love our enemies not just those we like. Many of these organizations are perpetuated by fear and intimidation which results in spiritual abuse which is probably more detrimental than physical abuse because you can see physical abuse while you can not see spiritual abuse, it is only felt. Many of these leaders who step up to the podium have their opposition killed spiritually by excommunication any time you cross their path with questions regarding their leadership. They readily reply, “I’m in control here” as they swing the blessed old book and preach love. All dictators manage by fear and everything is okay so long as you see it their way and fully support their ideologies without question. This is an easier way than preaching the love of God and teaching our people to love the Lord with their whole heart which causes them to willingly embrace the doctrine out of love rather than fear. The results are that they will also love one another. We are living in a time when the covenant members do not trust their leaders and neither do they trust one another and this is the product of management by fear instead of love.
Political Correctness is the Program of the world:
Political correctness is the program of the world; Biblical Correctness is the Program of The Church of God!
An example of the reckless assumption of authority without anointing is found in the Bible when Saul could not wait any longer for Samuel to return so he stepped up and declared himself to be in control.
When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
Saul, Weary of Waiting for Samuel, Offers Sacrifice:
And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. 1 Sam 13:6-14
Samuel rebuked him for his wickedness and told him in no uncertain terms what the consequences would be for his disobedience. Saul was in charge without authority or anointingand was projecting himself as prophet and protector of that which is right and when he should have been blessed by the minister of God he was himself attempting to bless Samuel as he greeted him and boasted of what he had done. He clearly let Samuel know, “I’m in control here.”
“WHO’S IN CHARGE HERE?”
There is so much confusion today as the many various groups claim to be the Lord’s Church after defying the very thing he said would identify His Church, LOVE. Jesus said, A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:34-35
Jesus went on to say, If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love
one another. John 15:10-17
How can you disobey this commandment and be the Church which Jesus is the Head of? Hate can’t be present where love is no more than darkness can manifest itself where light is. We must return to a loving caring relationship with the Lord and with one another to be the Church which He is building and will complete with us or without us. I feel sick as I work on this message and my heart is broken as I look out my window and think of all of those who will not even speak to me today because of these things. I can only imagine how the Lord must feel as He looks at us in our present state with covenant people scattered all over the hill sides. Some have forgotten the words from Jeremiah, Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 23:1-2
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. Jeremiah 50:6
We are living at a very critical time when logic has replaced faith and godly wisdom. The desire to be wise in man’s wisdom (secular education) has overshadowed the desire to be lead by the Holy Ghost through the Bible. What ever happened to the term, Divine Revelation? Does it no longer apply? Many in the covenant believe that in order to lead one must be first highly educated and without a degree no one can lead the Church but when we look into the Bible we find a very different story. What the Church needs today is men who will put their secular knowledge in submission to the Holy Ghost and on their knees find the will of God for His Church. We do not need to discriminate against men with education so long as they surrender it for the leading of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word but when they use it for vain glory it needs to be checked. Some of the garbage that is destroying God’s covenant people is coming from the mouth of educated men who don’t know God any more and intellect has taken over where the spirit left off. We need to return to divine revelation where those who were unlearned still could receive of God what was needed to lead us in the TRUTH. Many have allowed their education to rise to the top like foam in a churn and there is no substance in it. It should be skimmed away and discarded because the real butter is somewhere underneath. The Lord woke me up at 5:30 A.M. and told me to write after I had visited in a dream with the late Bishop M.A. Tomlinson so I am here writing this. It is time to call things as they are. God doesn’t give five (5) different General Overseers for His Church and my count is somewhat off because there are even more that claim to be The Church of God, His elect. What God wants is for all of us under covenant to come to our senses and admit if God has a Church, and He does, then He wants to lead it and have them all LOVE one another. God didn’t stop leading the Church, the Church stopped following God and it has resulted in factions and splits that have destroyed the fellowship of believers who were bound together by covenant and love of the brethren. Many have spoken of the third part, where is it? The third part is His part that will not sell out and it has not ceased at any time to exist at any time since its inception. The third part will not sell out and will come back together in the last days to do the work of the Master without fear, compromise or retreat while under the covenant of God instead of man. They will be aligned with the Lord and His Word and another they will not follow. New comers to the faith are quick to point out that unless you are educated you have nothing to offer the Church but I say to all unless you are led by the spirit you have nothing to offer the Church or the Lord. The Church organizations have educated men and money but the power of God to heal a headache has taken flight from them as they pursue the world and its glory. You can’t have the world and Jesus at the same time because no man can serve two masters. I am writing with all the love I know how but we must recognize the cowards and those who hide themselves in the caves waiting to see what will happen. The Lord is calling together a mighty army that will step out and be counted as we count down to His coming. In the Word we find the example of Saul as he hunkered down in Gilgal where those that were still with him had hid themselves in caves, thickets, rocks, pits and high places while trembling in their boots as they awaited the outcome because of SIN. This had been a mighty army just prior to this and now those who felt they could take on 10,000 shuttered and where cowards faint from their disobedience to their covenant. Those who had wanted a king so very much were now weary of him and wanted him to be under the direction of Samuel if they even wanted him at all. Sinful regression back into the things which they had once been delivered from made them weak and full of guilt and powerless. Now they were without a man of God to lead them and advise them concerning the things they were now facing. Where is Samuel and when will he return to them? Instead of having someone in control, The Church of God needs God’s man surrendered to the Lord and His will in control of the Church. The Church is to be under the control of the Lord who purchased Her. We don’t need someone we need the ONE, Jesus Christ to lead Her! Not only did Saul not wait for the return of the man of God but he took over the responsibilities of Samuel in a total disregard for him or his office and did not even send a messenger to seek his advice because he was the MAN. When he met Samuel he informed him of his new position, “I’m In Control Here” and you are no longer needed and was willing to boast of what he had done. He was quick to lay the blame on Samuel as he assumed the position of complete priest who could now bless as well as make sacrifice. While Saul did not say these exact words, “I’m In Control Here” they are certainly implied as one reads the biblical account.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 16:17-19
He said, “I’ll build my Church.” Man has tried, is trying and will try to build it but the end result is denominationalism, each having their man at the top saying, “I’m in Control Here”. Man is without authority to say this and the covenant members are without authority to say it of them. When the Church has the right person for the job God will confirm him and the Holy Ghost will close the mouths of those who oppose. Someone has said, “We need God’s direction here”, well we have His direction and it is the Bible. We looked on during recent political conventions of the so called Churches of God as men were paraded to the front and forced upon the assemblies and God wasn’t present during these events. Some of them were there as self proclaimed, self anointed and self appointed. Some either by acclamation or by action said, “I’m In Control Here” and the program continued. Those who were there know that this assessment is true and correct. Saints of God, souls are dying and going to Hell as I write this because good men sat and did nothing while these activities went on in the name of The Church Of God”. The British Statesman and Philosopher, Edward Burke said, “All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing.” When I joined the military, they taught me that for someone to purchase a uniform and put insignia’s on them and thus pose as an enlisted man or an officer was a crime. It is known as “impersonating an officer” and it is still a crime today but in 64 years of living I have never known of but one arrest for doing this crime. Does that mean it is not a crime? No, it just means it is usually overlooked by the authorities. It is still on the books but is seldom enforced. If a man puts on a military uniform and decides he wants to be a captain so he gets him some bars and pins them in the proper place and walks down the street within the city people will think that he is a captain. He will receive the respect from the civil community as a captain but if he then goes into a military installation and passes a new recruit, the recruit will at first render the military salute and proper military courtesy but will soon recognize this man as an imposter rather than an officer. He doesn’t walk right, his returned salute wasn’t right, his bars were not properly positioned and in other words, he was a phony. A true soldier never steps off the curb with his right foot but his left foot moves first every time. Saints there are a lot of fakes, counterfeits and phonies around the covenant people of God and their speech, looks and other actions betray them. Many have detected them but are too intimidated to say anything. The young soldier who spots the phony captain may be too intimidated to say a word but sooner or later he runs into someone who will challenge him and have him arrested. We need some arrest made today in the covenant family of God. If we fail to arrest them God will do it His way and that isn’t always pretty.
Men are stepping up saying, “I’m In Control Here”, but like the captain’s bars without authority. The captain’s insignia is nothing but symbolism without the paperwork that supports those bars. While they may gain respect by some, they are without authority and will soon be called to record. Without the authority, those bars are meaningless and represent a mockery to the institution they are supposed to serve. Without proper authority some men are “in charge” without authority today because there are no documents backing up their position. If one is placed in a position without proper authority regardless of who placed them there they are phonies or fakes. Did God place five (5) leaders over His Church? The answer is NO! Look into the authority—The Bible and you will see they are impersonators who have received their authority from man not God. It is believed by many that if you can stir up emotions, get a few people to surround you with a cloth flapping from a stick and dance around you that somehow that places you in as the top man. What that really does is place you in a vulnerable position with people looking to you for results and leadership that no man is capable of without the authority of God’s Word. They are a mockery to the organizations they serve and will soon be discovered as the fakes and phonies they truly are.
Saul became impatient when Samuel didn’t return when he thought he should so he prepared and offered the sacrifice in Samuel’s place. He became a mockery to the people of God by jumping ahead of the commands of God. If he could have only waited for about three (3) hours the sacrifice could have been properly done. Sarah and Abraham became impatient and attempted to help God but the end result was a split into two nations and the one was a mockery to the program of God. A policeman looks like a policeman
because of a uniform but it is the oath of office that makes him one. The badge is powerless without the authority that backs it up. The covenant people of God must return to God in humble submission and He will reveal the counterfeits in due time. The Church must first repent and return to God instead of man. We must once again return to the assemblies looking to God instead of some man, who is afraid to open the Church to the Holy Ghost for leadership. God will most likely not override man’s declaration of “I’m In Control Here” until the Church as a whole falls on Her face in true repentance in obedience to the Holy Ghost who has called for this numerous times. As long as the covenant people continue to let men say “I’m In Control Here” either by word or action we will not see the healing come to the Body of Christ that is needed. The impostors will soon fail and the fakes will loose their grip as kingdoms crumble. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Psalms 127:1
The gates of Hell shall not prevail but it will start at the grass roots when men of the covenant in the fear of God demand accountability of the leaders. Many of the leaders today are self declared leaders who are in reality hirelings.
The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God: That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD. Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them. For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not. And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them. Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble. For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal. Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble. Jeremiah 11:1-14
The covenant members, ministers, overseers and leaders have all allowed the shambles that the covenant members have found themselves to be in today. In 1991 we should have stormed the platform when the desecration of God’s Church took on such blatten form and formed a circle of thousands on our knees in prayer. Things would be different today and those without anointing would be afraid to step forward declaring “I’m In Control Here”.
We are bound in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. Don’t ever think or believe that God has forgotten our covenant with Him because it is in place and He will do something soon about all that has happened to His sheep.
I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies. Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it. Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour. Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion underfoot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart. The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace. They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD. Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them. And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. Jeremiah 12:7-15
The Ark of the Covenant got into the enemies hands but they soon wanted a return slip on it because God was causing much distress because of it being with them instead of His people. Job lost everything for a short time but it was restored to him and much more. We must not fret about what we don’t have but rejoice about what we do have with the Lord! After all it all belongs to Him anyway and many have forgotten that point. This is not a corporate giant we’re dealing with but rather “The Church of God”. A CEO doesn’t need the Holy Ghost anointing to succeed if he directs Sears, General Motors or some other corporate giant but he does to lead God’s Church. Where are the anointed leaders of The Church of God? The unanointed-self appointed are without authority to be Overseers of God’s Church yet they are out front saying, “I’m In Control Here”. If God’s covenant people will get serious about prayer the unanointed-self appointed will flee their post and their desertion will bring victory to The Church of God. We will then be able to say once again, “He’s In Control Here”.