This is lady can really put down some prayer and intercession. I have never seen anyone pray like Mother Elsie Shaw. Just listening to her pray takes me into the presence of the Lord. If you ever want to learn to pray, listen to Mother Elsie Shaw's prayer ministry.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Gospel Keys Urban Instructional DVD
Hi,
Today is the day! My friends at HearandPlay.com have just
released their latest GospelKeys Urban Pro 600 DVD course!
to see video clips and audio samples of what the course will
teach you.
The dvd courses are selling fast so I recommend you get to their website to check it out! Also, for a limited time, they're offering a bonus disc with exclusive (...never before seen) footage! The total course is 4 discs and almost 6 hours long!
For a 4-disc, almost 6-hour course, $69 is a giveaway! Where else can you get gospel music lessons for $11 an hour?
************************************
With this new "Urban Gospel" course you'll be able to...
* Implement a host of simple tricks that are guaranteed to
instantly add that well-known west coast flavor to your playing
(like Jason White and Mike Burrell).
* Beef up your playing drastically by adding these small
little grace notes, slides, and fill-ins to your chord
transitions. Jon utilizes this trick at least 80% of the time
and he spills the beans on exactly what to do to "own" it.
* How to master the art of passing chords so that your
chord progressions and songs never sound dull or "predictable."
As you'll learn in the course, the goal is to be
"unpredictable." That's when you know you've arrived.
* Learn the ways of the west coast and how to contemporize
your playing by using countless numbers of "stu?pid "
chords, movements, and accidentals! (Note: Please don't be
offended. This is real terminology in the gospel musician
community).
* How to play tons of opened and closed chords and how to
use them at the right time.
... And much much more!
If you're like me, you know how hard it is to find valuable
resources for gospel musicians! If you're truly serious about
learning the urban style of gospel music, this could very
well be what you've been looking for!
to take advantage of today's special offer!
All the best,
Chevonne Reynolds
P.S.
Oh Wait! - At least take advantage of their free newsletter
and over 60 free online lessons at:
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Gospel dvd bundle promo
Dear Gospel Lover,
Are you someone who is absolutely in love with gospel music? I mean, you hear it on Sundays during the church service, listen to it in your car on the way to work, and recite all the songs of your favorite artists (...Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin,
Vickie Winans etc.) word for word. If this is you, you're going to absolutely love what I just found out.
I think the only thing better than listening to gospel music is actually playing it yourself (...letting the spirit come from within). Now, you can do just that. You can play virtually ANY of your favorite Gospel songs on the paino and now the
organ by EAR in no time!
Click here for more details:
My friend Rev.Jermaine Griggs over at GospelKeys.com has taught more than 189,000 gospel musicians around the globe to reach
their wide range of musical goals using his infamous GospelKeys learning method.
The GospelKeys series breaks down hundreds of licks, tricks, and techniques into detail and is very easy to understand. It's like having a professional instructor ready to teach you at any time in the comfort of your own home.
Click here for more details:
No matter what style of Gospel Music is your favorite: Hymns, Congregational Songs, Slow Worship, Up-tempo Praise, Shouting music, Urban & Contemporary, he's got you covered!
Here's the best part. In celebration of the new year, Jermaine decided to slash the price of his entire GospelKeys Box set by more than 50%.You heard right, you can get this one of a kind
Gospel Instructional set of DVDs for less than half of the normal cost.
Jermaine told me this deal is will only be available for 3 days after you've read this e-mail. SO...
Start playing Gospel music TODAY!
Click here for more details:
All the best,
P.S. - You might find more interesting information, techniques,
or resources just by clicking around on their website.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Mike Bereal's instructional dvd
Are you creative when it comes to playing the piano?
Are you able to change up your style and play new things on the spur of the moment or does all your stuff sound the same way every time you sit down at the piano?
Maybe you're like most musicians who literally get frozen when it comes to thinking outside the box and adding flavor to your playing?
Or perhaps you've been playing the same songs, the same chords, the same arrangements for YEARS and have lost the passion and enthusiasm you once had when everything seemed fresh and new to you?
Whether you consider yourself insanely creative, a little creative, or just "stuck" in old ways, if you keep reading, you'll be helped in several ways:
You'll discover how to think differently than 80% of musicians out there and how what you already know (yes, even basic chords) can quickly and easily be rearranged and manipulated to sound so beautiful, full, and stylish that you wouldn't even recognize them.
You'll be exposed to everlasting principles that apply to all styles of gospel playing. This resource doesn't just focus on contemporary worship. It covers worship, traditional congregational styles, high praise, and uptempo shouting techniques (...basically every element of a standard church service).
You'll gain momentum and enthusiasm again as you start spicing up your playing with ideas you never thought you'd be able to think up, let alone play! Trust me... all it takes is for you to hear yourself sounding just a little bit like Mike Bereal and the feeling will become addictive. You'll then want to learn more and more because not only will you notice an increase in confidence, but you'll also start getting lots of praise from others who hear you.
You'll learn how to multiply your options on the piano so that you never have to play the same identical thing TWICE. If you listened to the video clip above, you were probably astounded at how creative Mike Bereal could get. Even when you thought he had pulled out his best trick, there was MORE to come. And the truth is, if he had played for 30-minutes straight, you would have gotten 30 full minutes of fresh, creative, "outside-the-box" ideas, one after the other. Imagine what it would feel like to have that many options on the piano...
And many more things...
...So fasten your seatbelt because I'm about to introduce you to something that will change the way you look at music forever.
But first, a few things about Mike...
"Introducing My Good Friend, Michael Bereal"
Michael Bereal has been playing the piano ever since he could spell the word "piano." For over 25 years he's perfected his style, which is recognized and referenced by musicians and listeners all around the world.
He's played piano, organ, synthesizer, and bass for a countless number of gospel artists like Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Beverly Crawford, Judith McAllister, Tonex, Kim Burrell, Kurt Carr, Renee Spearman, Norman Hutchins, Alaska Mass Choir, Karen Clark-Sheard, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Twinkie Clark, Marvin Sapp, Juanita Bynum, Bishop Noel Jones, Soul Seekers, Smokie Norful, Denetria Champ, Doc Powell, Olivia Williams, Eddie Baltrip, Coko, Bishop Paul Morton, and many more. He has also produced many of their albums.
Michael is also the head keyboardistat West Angeles Church Of God In Christ, where Bishop Charles E. Blake is the pastor and Presiding Bishop over the entire Church Of God In Christ (COGIC) denomination all over the world!
He's cited on gospel music forums across the net and referred to on video sites like youtube by musicians all around the globe.
I trust very few people over him to deliver fresh, practical, easy-to-understand techniques and principles to playing contemporary gospel music by ear!
"What If Someone, Who Has Played On Just About Every Popular Gospel Album Of This Decade, Could Hold You By The Hand And Show You Some Of His Most Coveted Secrets?"
This is what GospelKeys Master Class Volume 1 Featuring Michael Bereal will do for you.
You'll get the opportunity to learn stylistic approaches, chords, movements, patterns, "licks & tricks," and songs from one of the most sought-after gospel musicians on the planet.
"Finally! Mike Bereal and Hear & Play Music Collide To Bring You The First And Only Course Teaching His Techniques From The Man Himself!"
This master class series is finally going to reveal how a "Mike Bereal" thinks. And I can honestly say that none of our other course come close to revealing some of the secrets Mike shares as this is the first time we've held someone of his caliber hostage in our studio to produce a 3-hour course solely dedicated toCREATIVE PLAYING.
So if you've been stuck in the same place for a while (or even if you feel like you're growing fast), there's something in this course that will revolutionize the way you play and THINK.
"Do You Need GospelKeys Master Class Volume 1?"
Who should continue to read this page?
|
|
"Here's Specifically What You'll Get Out Of GospelKeys Master Class Volume One"
How to multiply your options on the piano so that you never have to play the same identical thing TWICE. This is the difference between a creative, free-flowing musician and a "canned" one.
Diversify your sound and learn how to to add tender and delicate undertones to your style! NOTE: Not all songs need a lot of power-punched chords. Many times "less" ends up being a lot "more." Mike will show you when and when not to "punch it!"
How to think on a whole different level and quickly and easily play things that will have other musicians literally drooling at the mouth (isn't that what you feel like when you watch Mike's video clip?IMAGINE BEING THAT PERSON ON THE KEYS)...
Get contemporary! Now you can spice up your traditional gospel playing with loads of phat chords and placements from one of the hottest gospel musicians on the planet! (Mike has played for Mary Mary, Judith McAllister, Beverly Crawford, Donnie McClurkin, andMANY MORE!)
Master tons of arpeggio worship techniques on your right hand that'll have you sounding like a gospel veteran every time you sit down at the piano!
Learn the secrets to creating the perfect transitions and lead-insto the next phase of the church service no matter what you're currently playing! NOTE: It is imperative that you master this as there can be a huge burden on you to effectively carry the worship service from one area to the next.
Incorporate Mike's "roll-over" method into your playing. This unorthodox move will literally turn everyone's head and give your playing that extra flare you've been looking for!
How to take songs you've redundantly played for years and drastically improve them so much that they feel foreign to you when you play them (I know it seems hard for a song you've played for 5-10 years to seem new to you but after watching this course, I guarantee you'll experience enthusiastic growth again!)...
To order this great dvd set or to hear sample clips click here:
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Forgiving One Another
The dictionary definition of forgive is to cease to feel resentment against an offender, i.e., to pardon ones enemies.
During WWII in France, a young nun was returning to her convent from the market. A soldier on a motorcycle saw her and pulled over. Although she thought he stopped to help her with her heavy basket of food, she soon found out otherwise. As he forced into the woods, she screamed, but no one heard her.
The trauma the occured that day haunted her with nightmares for years, but gradually she began to heal. Years later, she was chosen to host a meeting of German teachers as a gesture of post-war reconciliation. Among them was her aggressor. It all came back! The bitterness and the thoughts of revenge were unbearable until she spent the night in prayer. Crying out to God, she eventually found the grace to serve them--all of them. She was finally free!
Until we forgive, we are the prisoner of the person who has offended us.
What is the Biblical measure of forgiveness?
Seventy times seven. In Matthew 18:21-22, we read, Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
“No!” Jesus replied, “seventy times seven!” What does this mean?
Unlimited In Luke 17:3-4, Jesus says, “I am warning you! If another believer sins, rebuke him; then if he repents, forgive him. Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, forgive him.”
As God forgave us. Read what Paul says in Ephesians 4:32
What are the benefits of forgiving?
It is necessary for our own forgiveness. Jesus said, "But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” (Mark 11:25, 26)
It restores Christian fellowship. Now it is time to forgive him and comfort him. Otherwise he may become so discouraged that he won’t be able to recover. Now show him that you still love him. (2 Cor. 2:5–10)
Spiritual cleansing. James says that the elders of the church should pray over those who are sick and the Lord will make them well, adding, "And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven." (James 5:15-16)
Examples of forgiveness:
Esau and Jacob. (Genesis 33:4–15)Joseph (Genesis 45:8–15)
Moses (Numbers 12:1–13)
David (2 Sam 19:18–23)
Solomon (1 Kings. 1:52, 53)
Jesus (Luke 23:34)
Stephen (Acts 7:59-60)
Paul (2 Timothy 4:16)
Questions:
1. What kind of offense do you find most difficult to forgive?
2. Do you meditate on an offense over and over?
3. How do you find it in yourself to let go of past offenses even though you "deserve" to hang onto them?
4. Does forgiving someone mean that the offense is forgotten and has no further consequences?
5. Do you ever feel that you a prisoner of unforgiveness? When? Why?
6. What is the only phrase in the Lord's prayer with a "condition" attached? (Matthew 6:12)
2. Do you meditate on an offense over and over?
3. How do you find it in yourself to let go of past offenses even though you "deserve" to hang onto them?
4. Does forgiving someone mean that the offense is forgotten and has no further consequences?
5. Do you ever feel that you a prisoner of unforgiveness? When? Why?
6. What is the only phrase in the Lord's prayer with a "condition" attached? (Matthew 6:12)
Remain blessed
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Compassion
The definition of "compassion" in the dictionary is very short. It simply says that compassion means sympathetic consciousness of others' distress along with a desire to alleviate it.
This incident is true: Standing with his family in church, Bill recites the Lord’s Prayer. This is followed by some praise singing and then some announcements before the sermon, one of which is by an elder who is seeking to enlist some workers for an outreach project in the Bronx. Bill whispers to his wife, “Why do they interrupt the nice flow of our worship with such peripheral appeals?” What do you like (or dislike) about Bill's remark to his wife?
Read Luke 10:25-37 (The Parable of the Good Samaritan)
How would you describe the lawyer to whom Jesus told this story. Why do you think he wanted to “justify himself?” (Verse 10:29)
How might we explain the religious professionals’ (the priest and the Levite) lack of compassion for the beaten-up stranger?
It's easy to condemn the priest and Levite, but what if 300 people were gathered in a synagogue in the next town waiting for the priest and Levite to lead a service? And perhaps some of these people were hoping for spiritual healing from the priest.
Where do you suppose that the Samaritan got his compassion for the victim?
Jews of that day despised Samaritans, who were half-breed of Jews who intermarried with pagans. So why do you think Jesus made the Samaritan the hero in this story?
According to this story, what does compassion look like?
There are more than 90 specific references to compassion in the Bible. Most Old Testament verses refer to the Lord's compassion toward His people and most New Testament version refer to Jesus' compassion on those in need. Let's look at just a few.
- The Lord will always have compassion on us. (2 Kings 13:23, Nehemiah 9:27, Psalm 103:13, Isaiah 54:8) Does the Lord expect something from us in return?
- Jesus felt compassion to those in need. (Matthew 9:36, 14:14, 15:32, 20:34, Mark 6:34, 8:2, Luke 15:20, etc.)
- Those who walk with the Lord will have compassion. (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:12-13, Philippians 2:1-2, 1 Peter 3:8)
- Compassion fulfills the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)
To do:
1. Pray specifically to become a person of greater compassion.
2. Seek to be a Good Samaritan to the person in need that you identified above.
Remain blessed
Monday, January 18, 2010
Loyalty
In the dictionary, the word loyal means unswerving in allegiance as 1) faithful allegiance to one’s sovereign or government, 2) faithful to a private person to whom fidelity is due, 3) faithful to a cause, ideal or custom. Synonyms are: faithful, allegiance, devotion, dedication, constant, unwavering, steady, unfailing.
What’s the difference between being loyal to a local sports team, say the Giants or Rams, and being loyal to the coach of a team for which you play? (Hint: notice that the definition above implies that what you are loyal to should be deserving of your loyalty.)
Think of the people, organizations, teams, causes, etc. to which you are (or have been) loyal. Which ones are deserving of your loyalty? Which ones are not?
What does the Bible have to say about loyalty and being loyal?
- Loyalty is unwavering in good times and bad. (Proverbs 17:17)
- Loyalty is what you do, not what you say. (Matthew 26:33-35 and 26:69-75)
- Loyalty is in your heart. It is willing and not reluctant. (Psalm 78:8)
- Loyalty can be demanding. (Exodus 17:8-13)
- Loyalty may involve sacrifice. (2 Chronicles 11:13-16)
- Loyalty to the Lord will be rewarded. (Psalm 84:10-11) When this psalm says “those whose walk is blameless” it refers to Genesis 17:1 when the Lord appeared to Abraham and said to him “walk with me and be blameless” meaning that Abraham would receive the Lord’s promises if he was faithful and obedient.
- Disloyalty will be punished. Because Edom deserted Israel in its time of need, "I will bring you plummeting down," said the Lord. (Obadiah 1:4-14, especially verses 4 and 11)
How do you feel when a friend proves himself loyal or faithful to you?
How are you at being a loyal and faithful friend?
Remain blessed
Friday, January 15, 2010
Integrity
In the dictionary, the word integrity means 1) an unimpaired condition, i.e., soundness, wholeness 2) firm adherence to a code of moral values, i.e., incorruptible, honor, 3) the quality or state of being complete or undivided, i.e., completeness. Synonyms of integrity are honesty and unity.
The word integrity is related to what other words? Do they give you a better sense of the meaning of integrity?
The first definition (soundness or wholeness) is most often applied to a structure or a physical object, say the girders in a bridge, an engine block, or a piece of pottery. Can it be applied to a person as well?
Thinking just of the first definition above, what happens to something that does not have integrity?
We frequently think of a man of integrity being honest and trustworthy, but integrity is more than that. Look at the second definition and describe the difference between being trustworthy and being incorruptible.
What does the Bible have to say about integrity?
- Integrity means treating people fairly and honestly. (Leviticus 19:35-36, Deut 25:15, Proverbs 16:11-13)
- Integrity is giving your word and keeping it. (Exodus 8:28-32)
- Integrity will protect you. In Psalm 25, David prays that integrity and uprightness will protect him. How can it? (Psalm 25:21, Proverbs 2:7-8, 10:9, 11:3, 13:6)
- Integrity is more valuable than riches. (Proverbs 28:6)
- The Lord will test and judge your integrity. (1 Chronicles 29:17, Psalm 7:8)
- The Lord hates lies and lack of integrity. (Zechariah 8:16-17)
- It may be difficult to maintain your integrity. (Job 2:3, 2:9, Proverbs 29:10)
- Your character can be corrupted by bad company. (1 Corinthians 15:33)
- Integrity will be rewarded. (1 Kings 9:4-5, Nehemiah 7:2, Psalm 41:11-12)
- Your integrity should set an example. (Titus 2:7)
If people who know you were asked for five words that describe you, would integrity be one of them?
What can you do to improve your integrity?
Remain blessed
Monday, December 21, 2009
What is Wisdom and Why Follow its Path?
Wisdom Defined
In the Biblical sense, wisdom is the "ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding". The Wisdom teachings of the Bible follow from the two great themes of the Ten Commandments and the Greatest Commandments of Jesus : reverence to God, our Creator, and respect for all persons, everywhere.
Customs are not Wisdom
Biblical-era life for the Jews and early Christians was harsh. Slavery was commonplace. Tyrannical rule by outside powers was the norm. Women's status in society was distinctly second class. Children were disciplined with beatings.
These conditions were often accepted in the Bible as customary for society during those times, but they were not taught as being virtuous or wise. True wisdom is always consistent with the two great wisdom themes of the Bible: reverence to God, our Creator, and respect for all persons, everywhere.
Wisdom is More than Following the Rules
A set of commandments or rules can give us important examples of wisdom, but they are only examples. No set of rules can cover all situations, and it is up to us to generalize the commandments to all cases. Many times, as in this passage from Matthew, Jesus condemned the hypocrisy of those religious leaders who observed the law in its strict, literal sense, but violated its spirit:
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. (NAS, Matthew 23:23)
Wisdom means always acting according to the spirit of the Commandments and not looking for an ambiguity or omission which we can use to evade their true intent. Wisdom means understanding the consequences of our actions and words before we act or speak. Wisdom means having the knowledge and understanding to recognize the right course of action and having the will and courage to follow it.
Why Follow Wisdom's Path?
Following the ways of Wisdom helps bring us in harmony with God because these ways are in accordance with His will, as revealed in the Bible, and are pleasing to Him.
The ways of Wisdom also bring us in harmony with other persons because respect for others is the very essence of the Commandments. The wisdom teachings of the Bible are much more than an arbitrarily dictated moral code; they form a prescription for living in peace with the people we interact with daily.
Finally, acting with Wisdom brings us in harmony with ourselves, giving us a sense of self-worth and inner peace. This inner peace is achieved because we are acting in accordance with our consciences and avoiding the shame and guilt of following our baser instincts.
How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding. For its profit is better than the profit of silver, and its gain than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold her fast. (NAS, Proverbs 3:13-18)
We often fail in our daily struggle to act with wisdom -- it does not come easily or naturally. Although it is easier to follow our less-than-wise impulses, the reward for acting with wisdom is great. When we give it our best effort, the payoff in self-esteem and inner peace will compensate us many times over.
Remain blessed
Saturday, December 19, 2009
On This Rock- Part 4
They were telling me last night in the Deacons Meeting that we have a man who is getting ready to get out of prison. He has been in prison for thirty years. He’s been one of the chief overseers of the ministry that we have in the prison. Somewhere, about ten years ago or whatever, he wanted to marry this woman. We told him, "Don’t do it." Pastor Rob went down there, "slapped him around" a little bit, and he told him, "Don’t do it." I mean that he did everything but tie him up. What do you think he did? What do you think happened? So he pledges, "I will never go against a multitude of counsel again as it comes to me from my overseers." He’s getting ready to get out, and he’s got a plan, a good plan. But all those who have ministered to him, whether it’s a deacon or some of the other men who have gone down and ministered to him, have said, "It’s not that good of a plan." The deacons and the others are talking to him and ministering to him. They told him, "No, it’s not a good plan." What do you think he’s going to do? He’s going to do what he wants to do. So I sent word to him, and I said, "Don’t come out of prison and plan on coming to fellowship here. You have already rejected the counsel we gave you. If you won’t take it now, you won’t take it after you get here. Don’t bother." Amen? Don’t bother; do what you want to do.
The questions we’re going to answer in these next couple of sessions have to do with the question: what rights do we have as individuals? You have every right to be independent, but you have no right to be rebellious. Can I say it again? You have every right to be independent, but once you profess to be a part of the body of Christ, you have no right to be rebellious. You are under authority, and you are under guidance as it pertains to spiritual things. "Well, what about all this stuff that, you know, the authority… Do you mean brothers and sisters who come to me with counsel? Their authority is something that, if they are representing biblical principles, I should listen to it? I’m obligated to listen to them?" You’d be wise to listen to them at times, and, yes, you’re obligated to listen to them at times, because God has set up standards for living in His kingdom. "Yeah, but I feel led to commit adultery." We want to play around over here in the obscure; most of us want to argue the obscure. When I use terms like "adultery," you all say, "You can’t commit adultery and be part of the church. That’s obvious." It’s not about adultery. It’s about rebellion. It’s about independence. It’s about selfness as it pertains to what’s good for the community as a whole. "I have my rights!" Yes, you do. Your right is to prefer others better than yourself. Our doctrine is all good, beloved, but when it comes down to putting this thing to the road in so many areas, we have trouble. A case in point was when somebody asked the question the other night: "Well, I don’t know. I heard Pastor give that illustration about a sister and marrying another one. Don’t we have rights to go to another church, if we want to go to another church?" You have every right in the world to go to another church, but you have no right to be in rebellion and "blow off" the counsel and the guidance of your spiritual overseers. I would very, very cautiously choose my rights and my independence against designated authority. Some of you say, "Well, I don’t know about that." Well, if you’re going to follow that philosophy, apply it to your home. Apply it to your children. Who are you? "I’m the head of my house, bless God." Who made you head? Amen? The One you are ignoring, the One who has established authorities and order in His church—if you don’t submit to authority, you have no business being in authority. We miss the obvious, beloved, as we argue for the obscure, for the secular, and for the temporal. We’ll forfeit eternal privilege and position for temporal justice and rights. That’s the Constitution. It is not the Bible.
Remember who wrote our Constitution and gave you these liberties: rebels. Don’t make a mistake. I’m not going to get into my politics. I love our country. I love living under the liberties that we’ve had, but I am not stupid. I know how we were founded. I know that the majority of the "Christians" who wrote our Constitution were deists. Do you all know what a deist is? They believe in God. They believe that God created and that God initiated. Then, He stepped back, and He said, "It’s yours. Go ahead and run it." That’s not the God I serve. Some of these were born again, but most of them were deists. Most of them were rebels, and most of them established the churches that we are all so thankful for. Many of them allowed the pendulum to swing too far because of the Church of England. They didn’t like the dominance; so it swung over here to independence within the churches, and it broke the divine order that God established. Many of them were the Puritans, the Quakers, and the Calvinists of that particular age. There is something behind all of this, beloved. We can become lax in our thinking, because we are a generation living off of sound bites. We don’t spend enough time to sit back, analyze, and understand what’s going on around us. We hear a sound bite of a preacher over here on this television show, and a preacher over here, and the Bible says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," (2 Timothy 2:15). The words "rightly dividing" mean "to be able to cut through the principle that’s at hand, or to arrive at a conclusion, justice, and application that glorify God the creator." It does not justify man, the creation. It does not justify the wicked and condemn the just.
We’ve had so much confusion and stuff going on in recent days in our fellowship. Questions are being asked. "Well, what about the right… Don’t I have the right to run over here?" We had a situation just the other day. A young person runs off from here and goes to another, local church. They embrace them, and everybody’s encouraging them. What should be said is: "Go home, you rebel." Your mom and dad are serving God. They are full of the Holy Ghost, and they are standing up for biblical principles. The people there are coddling the rebel, and they call themselves the church. We’re saying the church is universal. That’s not the church! The church does the Word of God; amen? I don’t care what their theology is. I don’t care how sound some of their doctrine might be. If you simply can’t understand how to treat a rebel, and you can’t understand divine order and authority—children are to obey their parents in the Lord, if they are not being asked to do anything that’s not biblical. "I want my rights. I want my independence. I want to run around, hang out, do this, and do that." I want to tell you something, beloved. You are tossed to and fro by every wind and doctrine, and by men who lie in wait to deceive. You’d better find out what the Word of God teaches. You’d better find out who the representatives of God are. They are the people who are going to stand, apply the Word of God, and not coddle the rebels.
Some of us want to get confused or up in arms over other peoples’ rights. They have no rights but to obey their parents; amen? You have no rights but to do the Word of God. You don’t have any rights to be running around out here. You don’t have any right to independently rebel against your parents, those who are put in your life and have overseen your life since you were born, those who have counseled you, and those who told you, "That’s not the way. That’s not the Word of God. That’s not bringing glory to God, and that is not representative of the kingdom of God." They don’t have any right to do that, and then call themselves Christians and rail upon authority. This isn’t new, beloved; this has been around in man since time began. We know in the sixties, the "drop out generation"—I want to tell you something. The way some of these churches have responded and the way the communities respond, right now, it’s always "the authority." It’s always "the institution" that’s wrong. These poor, abused people… It is that "bad institution," that "bad authority." It is humanism!
You go and tell them, you and two others, and they refuse to hear you. Look what he says happens next. "And if he shall neglect to hear them [do what?], tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican" (Matthew 18:17). There’s a very obvious truth here that’s being missed. It’s very simple, but it’s being missed. Go to them alone. If they don’t hear you [do what?], take two or three witnesses. If, by chance, they happen to still be so self-willed, stubborn, and stiff-necked that they don’t receive the counsel of a multitude, what do you do then? There is a truth that’s being missed here by so many. Do you know what it is? There’s nothing that follows that. That’s the end. Tell the church, and then you say, "The end." Amen? What the church says is final; it is the end. Their decision stands. That is the end. We always want to think there’s another court to appeal to. Now, as if it wasn’t bad enough—we have all the appellate courts, the different things that are going on, and the Supreme Court. Now we have our country wanting us to bow down as a nation to an international court. I don’t personally care what another country thinks about what we’re doing and how we judge things; amen? As a citizen of the kingdom of God, I don’t care what the world thinks about the judgment we make. If it’s according to the Word of God, it’s true. There is no appeal, if you are part of the church. Do you see? What you have to do to reject the judgment of the church is to reject the church, the lordship of Jesus. What we do in our day is go three blocks down the street, and we join another church. There is only one church
Remain blessed
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