Verily, verily...

Praise the LORD, we're blessed with another day to glorify the name of JESUS!!!

From the title, one should be able to see that this is something of importance. For the repeating of these words, as well as the repeating of a certain statement, were meant to drive home the importance of a fact that was to follow. It's not that what I'm going to say is important, but that the message the LORD has laid on my heart is.

WHO/who do you follow??? That should be simple enough to answer, but is it??? There are several warnings given by Paul in the New Testament, on the separation or divisions within the Church. Though like in his day, it seems that people have greatly overlooked and still fail to heed these.

There truly shouldn't be a need for the question, but there is, for far too many follow after the teachings of others, instead of following those strictly of CHRIST. Now, I'm not talking about those that are following after "errant" teachers today, though this IS a major problem. But, those that are taking the teachings from the Bible, let's call them "one liners", and going on crusades with them.

Now, all in all, this may not be wrong, but when one forsakes the very teaching of CHRIST, to go off on a tangent, to bolster a cause, there is. A great deal of this happens due to the "immaturity" of the believer. Paul himself tackles this problem, but I'm led to re-hash it today. For people would rather just overlook it and "run with that which they believe is of the SPIRIT." Well, it maybe of the spirit, but certainly not the HOLY SPIRIT!!! For anything that the HOLY SPIRIT teaches, will completely coincide with ALL of scripture, not only on a part of it. In other words, "if it doesn't mesh with the complete Bible(beginning to end), it's not of the HOLY SPIRIT!!!"

Now, to the crust of this biscuit.

There are so many lines of thought within the Church today, it's downright ridiculous. Here, I'm focusing on two specific ones. People preaching nothing but the "End Times." Others, doing nothing but standing in judgement of others in the Church and their teachings. And, though both of these topics, ARE in scripture, they are but "one liner" topics. (and yes, I know these are covered in more that a single line, but that's what the BOSS, says call them :{))) argue with HIM) Both, though important facts, don't "mesh" with the totality of scripture. Which makes focusing on and the pursuit of them wrong.

JESUS warns us, personally, of focusing on the events of the "End Times,"  and also in numerous places, of standing in judgement of others, especially those of the Church. An I know, there are those that are going to say "these aren't of the Church, but are errant in their ways." There you go though, you're putting "yourself" in the position of THE JUDGE, and are you so sure that your "righteous judgement" is truly righteous??? Or not just "a little of the flesh boiling up within you"??? You know, we as "man," are prone to a little pride, now and then. Even the best of us.

To keep this from being a book, I'm going to make this short and sweet. The next time you're doing a little surfing of the internet, or reading somebody's new(or old) book, and something really fires you up. Back off for a bit. Pray, test the spirit of this matter and give it some time to settle in. For like an actual fire, all will blaze up at first, but not all will continue to burn strongly. This because the RIGHT FUEL isn't there. That fuel, the right, is the HOLY SPIRIT. The wrong fuel, is that of this world and it's purposes, are to bring division and take our eyes off the true focus we are to have> spreading the GOSPEL, loving GOD, our fellow believers and our neighbors(believer or not.)



GOD bless and good day,
 Rev. Marshall Barth
 Vine of CHRIST Ministries

Chirstian "Chicken Littles"

 Praise the LORD!!!

   Good day and GOD bless!!! A serious question, or maybe several:))) Why, is it that we have so many Christians, that when someone begins preaching something about the end times, they begin running all around proclaiming the "sky is falling???" I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, we inundated with this kind of behavior constantly. Take for instance the recent "Rapture" cry out propagated by Harold Camping. This lone preacher isn't alone though, for there are many of cases out there, just check the internet about them all(that is, if you want to waste your time!!!)

   Christian, all that we need to know about the "end times" is already written, in scripture. If you've done your homework, you should of read it. Most likely numerous times over. Though in this, could lie the problem??? People having read it, or not, and taking the words of some other person as being the verification that "it is happening now."

   We're told by the LORD, to know the signs of the times, but not to run around crying out about them being about to happen. But to be about our labors for HIM!!! In the numerous parables relating to the events of the "end times" JESUS didn't describe workers running about singing about all that is about to happen, but of those that were busily about their labors in some manor. In the field, on the rooftop, or about grinding the meal for the days meal, they were all going about their labors, knowing those signs, yet not bothered by the fact that they were actually about to happen.

   Our work as Christians, is to spread the GOSPEL, help those around us during their times of need and (the most important of all) TRUST GOD!!! Anyone can, take a number of scripture verse, events that are taking place and weave them into that which will raise the emotions of the people that hear it. People are famous for manipulating things thru out history, so don't believe all that you hear or see as being the gospel truth. There is only one GOSPEL truth and it is firmly written in your Bibles. Never changing to fit that which is happening around us, but always founded upon the ROCK and HIS WORDS for us!!!!!!!

   ***There are no scriptures referenced here, WHY??? I will not be, as I stated, one whom manipulates it to bring my point across, but as I've always said, read your Bible for yourself and know the TRUTH !!!!!!! We are to be a people leading others to a better way of life, in JESUS, not "fear mongers" who seek to stir the emotions of others to gain followers and notoriety to give our pride a boost!!!***


 Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org


GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries

3.28.10_ Matt. 24:4-51_End-Times

 Praise the LORD!!!

   Today's verses, are going to be almost a full chapter, but all are to be thought about and remembered, and you will see why here in a bit!

   Matt. 24:4-51(KJV)

 4 "And Jesus answered and said unto them, "Take heed that no man deceive you.  5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.  9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.  10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.  15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)  16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:  17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:  18 † Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.  19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!  20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:  21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.  23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.  24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  25 Behold, I have told you before.  26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.  27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  28 For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.  29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  31 And he shall send his angels with a a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

 32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:  33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.  34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.  35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.  36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.  44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.  45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?  46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.  47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.  48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;  49 And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;  50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,  51 And shall cut b him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." "

   I've just come from a normally quiet site (myCBN.com), where there was a conversation going on about the end-times and the part that our current world leaders are playing in this. Due to someone's posting of an article about our current president and his possible role in this, all hell broke out. First it started with the 'race' card' being pulled, and not one word about race had been mentioned. Then it came to people being judgmental, and people were being called all sorts of rude names. Then it came to all Christians being called 'blind sheep,' when none were professing to follow any of the statements made within this article, but were comparing what was written to scripture. Yet when I went to check out this person that had gotten in such a 'huff' over this whole thing, their profile was just recently opened and barren of any information at all. It was as  if they'd just appeared for this confrontation alone and took part in none of the other features of the site.

   Now, I'm not one to take part in long discussions on the end-times. For I see them as they should be viewed. Having knowledge of them, but not being overtly concerned about them. They will happen, just as written and there is nothing that anyone can do to change this fact. GOD is the one in ultimate control and all will happen according to HIS time tables and plans! What had drawn my attention to this conversation in the first place was the fact that there were about ten comments posted by friends on this post and I wanted to see what had them in a stir. It appears that this new person had come in and begun to argue over some information that had been posted from another site. The information wasn't being agreed with or pushed as fact, but was being used as something to stimulate the conversation(boy did it:)) There is a good chance that if this person hadn't of made such a 'stink' over it, the article may of been soon forgotten. Not now though, everyone's attention has been pulled towards it. Now from what I could see from a quick once over of the article, it was something someone had thrown together, and was selling. I'm sure you all know the routine on this type of scam. They bait you in and promise all these added benefits, if you but download their article for $14.95(or whatever). A typical internet scam, usually here today and gone tomorrow.

   Even this person's outrage began to appear tied into it. For no one can make comments on these sites unless they're a member of the CBN site in the first place and also a member of the specific group. What it was looking like is that this person had ties to the article's site and had just popped in to boost the articles attraction to the members online, in hopes of drawing some of them into the snare. Which it may of worked, for there are always some that fall prey to such tactics. This is not the reason for the LORD drawing my attention to this though and I must relate to you the why behind all this.

   Many people today, especially with all the events that are taking place, are looking to end-time prophecy. Which truly isn't a bad thing, unless it is that which you dwell on! We're told to "know" the signs of the times and to keep watch, but not to dwell upon these things. While I was locked up, being just prior to the begin of the "New Millennium," there were countless books being published on the end-times. Especially with all the hype from the secular media about it also. Now, with the "Mayan, 2012" hype in the media and many of the details that are taking place in the world of politics and those things of nature, many are beginning to focus their attentions on the end of days once again.

   As I said, we are  to know the signs of the times and to"watch" for them, but not to dwell upon these things. That which we have set before us to accomplish for the LORD, is that which is our task to dwell upon. This is to fulfill the 'Great Commission' and to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Just these two things should occupy a Christian's mind and heart. I truly wished I had the ability to use my Bible study program and be online at the same time, for then I could relate to you the meaning of the word 'watch' in the Greek. For it doesn't mean to stand still and literally do nothing but wait and watch for these events, thus dwell upon! But it is along the lines of a casual watching, while continuing one's normal work!! As I've said, I'm not an English major and can't tell you the type of word this is and how it effects the meaning of the sentence. But I do know that from studies, the point has been made clear, that this is the way that the LORD wants us to take note of the end-times. Not to stand around and talk about them and dwell upon all that we see and what will be next. But to be about our work for HIM, to spread the GOSPEL to every living being upon the planet. As we draw closer to this time in HIStory, more and more of the prophecy are going to be taking place and if we stop to take note of them all, we will be lax at our work. We know the signs that will take place, or at least I pray you do, and don't miss out on the chance to tell another person about JESUS and all that HE's done for us. Spread the GOSPEL as if there were not going to be another opportunity to do so. As if the next person you tell, could be the very last to hear the GOSPEL and the one that will complete the fulfillment of the "Great Commission." Dwell upon these my friend and let the FATHER take care of that which HE is the only one to know the "day and the hour" of. Would it not be awesome to of just witnessed to a person and then hear the trump of GOD and see the sign of the Son of Man coming upon the clouds! To think that just maybe you were the person to of fulfilled the "Great Commission" and brought on the coming of our LORD!!! Awesome!!!




Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
Check out my other blog, "Blogs from the Vine"

GOD bless and good day,

Rev. Marshall Barth

Vine of CHRIST Ministries

Vine Ministerial Network International