Who Rules Over You?
Who Rules Over You?
Editor: Steve Van Nattan-- This article Mary has composed is urgently needed. As a pastor, I have watched in recent years as prominant men teachers have taken over the minds of many Christian women in the Lord's Church. They are often far more trusted than many Christian women trust their own husbands. This is wicked, and these gurus will NOT call it off. Why? Answer: These disobedient Christian women will stop buying the gurus' books if they call for biblical submission.
Also, I have watched as preachers have taken over the minds, bordering on lust, of women in front of them. We have reports of one Baptist preacher's Thursday night gathering with the girls at his Bible college, and it is obscene in its verbal familiarity. The preacher is just like hundreds of other Bible Baptist pastors who take charge of the minds of the women in front of them. The husbands are expected to hand over their wives for these popelets to rule in mind and otherwise. Thus, this article is urgently needed. Dear Christian lady, please ask your husband to read this article and see how he feels about it.
There a good many preachers and scholars lording it over the Lord's church these days. From the Charismatic wild men and seminary professors to pastors of King James-only churches. Why?
Jeremiah 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? People love it. People would rather be ruled over by men than by a holy God, so they submit themselves to the men instead of God. Men who are Nicolaitans never require as much of people as God does. The "gurus" require many and various things that seem strange and foolish to those not under them, and yet, what the Bible says God requires of us is so very much more. It would perhaps seem excessive also were it not for one thing: God is worthy of all that He asks from us.
Considering what He has done for us, it is reasonable that we should present our bodies a living sacrifice. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. What have these Nicolaitans done for their followers besides make laws for or fools of them? They do not reasonably deserve anyone to present themselves to them as living sacrifices, and yet their followers do so regularly.
Considering how holy God is and that He has given us the great privilege of being His children, it is reasonable that we should strive to be holy for He is holy. 1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. Which of these Nicolaitans is truely holy enough to be such an example that we should emulate them? And yet they glory in having men copy their mistakes and live by their messed up rules. We are not ambassadors for them, though many of them would have us think so. We are ambassadors of Christ and, as such, should strive to be holy like Him so that the world may see Christ in us. 2Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
The very name Nicolaitan means "above the people," so, not only have these men lifted themselves above the people that they are to be equal with and servants to, they have also taken away from the Lord what is rightfully His! No wonder He says, But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Revelation 2:6 And again, So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Revelation 2:15 Twice Jesus expresses His hate for this wickedness! In Genesis 41:32 we see that a thing which is given twice is established of God, (And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God...) so, we know that this is something that the Lord wanted to establish to us that He hates.
Sister, do you love to have false prophets and Nicolaitans rule over you? Have you set up your pastor, or a radio or TV preacher as your final authority? Do you allow one of the sebliptionalist Christian writers like to rule your life from a distance through his newsletters and books? The only earthly person that you owe submission to is your own husband, and that is as to the Lord. Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. If you are unmarried then you are to be under your father's authority. Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
Those that rule over the church must not do so by means of Nicolaitan, guruistic power. They must come to the saints as men under authority to Christ -- teaching men, not lordly men. blips 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. (They should be getting more in line with God's word, not sloppier.) blips 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (They should be watching for your soul. How can they do that if they don't even know you? In huge churches, in churches where the pastor separates himself from the brethren, over the radio or T.V., or through the mail this is impossible!) blips 13:24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. (How can people salute someone whom they do not know personally?)
We should be like the Bereans whom Luke wrote about in Acts. Acts 17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the blips. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. We should search the scriptures to see if what we hear from these men is Biblical or not, and if in question... 1Corinthians 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. The command to be in obedience is repeatedly for the wife to her own husband, and again, that is as unto the Lord. Let us be diligent that it not be said of us that we love to have false prophets and Nicolaitans rule over us! Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
-- Mary Van Nattan
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Here is a statement that many find difficult if not impossible to believe. God has given us all things "that pertain unto life and godliness." ALL THINGS! Nor has He given them to just us, but they have been available to the saints since Peter wrote this. We do not need "the second blessing," "something more," nor a "baptism of the Holy Ghost" other than when we're saved. We lack nothing to live a godly life. It is all available to us. Not one thing is lacking or missing, and it has not been for almost 2000 years! How dare these modern teachers rise up in these last days and say that "God is doing a new thing," that we need a "better translation," or that people really need psychology to understand themselves! We have all that we need, and always have had it!
We have the Holy Spirit to comfort, teach, guide and give us power to serve the Lord --
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in JerBliplem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
We have the very words of God --
2 Peter1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
We have the Father and the Son if we keep His words --
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
We have a High Priest and access to the very throne of God --
blips 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
We have a ministry and the means by which to accomplish it --
2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament...
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound topiano coversd you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
We have a blessed hope to sustain us in even the darkest hours --
Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
1Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
We have friends to fellowship with --
blips 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
We have men to teach us --
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
blips 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
And how many other things can we find? We could go on and on listing them. What could a person possibly want besides? What riches! What wealth! How is it that so many become discontent? Why do they seek after tongues and signs, feelings and psychology? We need to spend more time looking into the perfect law of liberty and continuing in it. James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. No wonder so many today are not blessed in the things they do. They are not content with what God has given them, namely all things "that pertain unto life and godliness."
--Mary Van Nattan
graphics by mary van nattan
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