Bible Doctrine

There are two chapters in the Book of Revelation I believe Jesus Christ would have all believers to read and understand – chapters two and three. In these two chapters Jesus addresses Himself to seven different congregations situated in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). Those seven are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Why these seven? Look at a map of the ancient Roman Empire. These seven cities were close to the Island of Patmos, where John was then a prisoner of the Romans. The nearest city to Patmos was Ephesus. These seven congregations all sent elders to Patmos to inquire of John what to expect in the days ahead since John was the last surviving apostle. Roman prisoners were permitted to receive visitors. We know that from the visitors Paul was permitted to receive during his Roman imprisonments. (See Acts 23:16; Acts 27:1-3 and Acts 28:15-16 and 30). The reason many miss this simple explanation is because they fail to realize that the Greek word for “angels” and “messengers” is the same Greek word! Therefore, when the translators came across the Greek word aggelos (pronounced ANG-el-os), they had to determine whether it should be rendered “angel” or “messenger.” They did not always make the right choice. For instance, the word “angel” in Acts 12:15 should be translated “messenger.” These believers did not believe Peter’s “angel” was at the door. They thought Peter’s messenger was at the door, and that Rhoda had mistaken the messenger’s voice for Peter’s voice.

In Revelation, chapter one, verse eleven, we read, “What you see, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia…” Well, just HOW was the imprisoned John going to obey this command? Chapter 2, verse 1, of Revelation tells us HOW John could accomplish this task: “Unto the angel (human messenger) of the church of Ephesus write; These things says He that holds the seven stars in His right hand. Are we to believe John was directed to write to angels??!! How do you write to an angel? How do you deliver what you have written to an angel? Why write an angel about matters dealing with human believers? When one changes the word “angel” to “messenger” – and the Greek does allow such a translation – the mystery is cleared up and it makes all the sense in the world. John was told to write down Jesus’ message for these congregations, because these seven congregations had sent messengers, elders, to John asking, “Do you have a word for us from the Lord?”

When reading chapters two and three of Revelation remember that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (See Hebrews 13:8). He changes not (See Malachi 3:6). What angered him two thousand years ago angers Him yet today. Also, note well that to each of these seven assemblies Jesus Christ says, “I KNOW THY WORKS!” (See Revelation 2:2, 9, 13, etc.). Jesus Christ is imminently aware of all we say, do or think. He has the very hairs of our head numbered, and since their number is constantly changing (look at your comb, or in the sink), saying He has all the hairs on our head numbered is the same as saying His attention is riveted on us always, at every moment, never deviating, never relenting – FOR OUR GOOD! Also notice that to five of these seven congregations Jesus Christ commands that they REPENT! Jesus Christ does not tolerate ongoing sin in His body. True believers are the body of Christ, and we are to be morally upright as He is morally upright. To all seven of these assemblies, Jesus says, “He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Jesus never force-feeds. He tells it like it is and then says, “If you can receive it, there is the truth.”

Notice that the very first thing Jesus mentions in addressing Ephesus is “You have tried (tested, examined) them which say they are apostles (messengers, spokesmen of Christ), and are not, and have found them liars.” (See Revelation 2:2). That is of paramount importance with our Lord. Of course, one cannot possibly PROVE whether someone is a true representative of Jesus Christ, saying what the Bible teaches on any given matter unless they themselves KNOW what the Bible teaches. It is imperative that a believer gets to know and understand the Word of God to some degree. We are not to gullibly accept any “preacher” that appears on the scene, claiming to be one of God’s truly anointed and ordained spokesmen. Men and women become preachers for a variety of reasons, e.g., it is an honorable profession. It was expected of them by their mother or father. Their best buddy entered seminary training, so they simply followed suit. And, of course, there are many other such reasons – NONE BUT ONE BEING SCRIPTURAL. Such men and women are ripe to be used by Satan in spreading his clever deceptions. That is one primary reason why there are over TWO HUNDRED denominations in the Christian “religion.”

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

• “I never met a man I didn’t like!”  Will Rogers said that.  Well, God never created a human being He didn’t love.  “For God so loved THE WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son….”
• How tragic it is that Satan has foisted off upon much of the professing Christian world that God has no real concern for most of the human family.  If one is born into an era and area where a false religion is the only spiritual knowledge available, well, that’s just too bad.  Indoctrinated into the Hindu religion from infancy forward, then living and dying gripped in the darkness of that religion never once hearing the truth of God, well, it is a pity for sure.  Many believe such BILLIONS die lost and without hope.  All that awaits them in eternity is hell fire, whether it be but momentary or endless, still that is their fate.  Can’t you see what a diabolical doctrine and belief that really is? If preachers would just let go of their pride, maybe they could also let go of some of their errors.  And if those who call themselves “New Testament Christians” could only come to see that a New Covenant believer accepts the Hebrew scriptures as God’s holy inspired Word as well as accepting the inspiration of the Greek scriptures, then maybe they could accept the mighty truths God speaks forth through His ancient, anointed prophets.
• I learned a long, long time ago that most preachers do not think too deeply.  They might be clean-living, honorable, law-abiding folks, even good husbands and fathers, but, for the most part, they are steeped in wide-ranging error.  It never seems to dawn on them that for CENTURIES New Covenant believers had no New Testaments!  For ten years or more God’s true church, New Covenant believers, didn’t even have one single apostolic letter or epistle!  The ONLY Word of God they had to guide and enlighten them was the Hebrew scriptures, what would CENTURIES LATER come to be called “The Old Testament!” I also learned long ago that most preachers are extremely narrow-minded.  If they detect one is saying something counter to what they already believe, they don’t want to hear it.  They immediately turn a deaf ear to the speaker or stop reading something someone has written if it is not in full agreement with what they already believe.  It appears they think themselves to be infallible!  This is the main reason a Presbyterian minister remains a Presbyterian minister all the days of his life.  (Place ANY denomination you wish in that last sentence and it will still fit perfectly.)
• Folks just don’t PROVE their beliefs.  They just accept them and hold on to them till their dying day.  That’s a character trait shared by almost all of humanity. I was never  blessed with material wealth.  I have been a common laborer all the days of my life – now eighty-two years long.  But God graciously and freely gave me a tremendous wealth of spiritual knowledge and enlightenment many years ago.  And He gave me that quality lacking in much, if not most, of humanity – a truly open mind.  He gave me the power to reason, to think, to examine, to weigh carefully, to check and cross-check and then to accept and believe the truth.  Therefore, I am an extremely wealthy man.  I now share my wealth daily with others only to find that my coffers remain full and are ever over flowing.  You, my reader, have just  been given a goodly portion of that wealth.
• Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
• Donald Wiley

Some argue that since the fourth commandment is not repeated verbatim in the New Testament that shows that it had been abolished.  That is the most ignorant argument I have ever heard put forth by those who wish to discourage honoring the Sabbath day.  When looking forward in time to the Great Tribulation, Jesus said, “Pray you that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day,” showing that He Himself saw the Sabbath as still being holy time even past our own day!  (See Matthew 24:20).

Also, just days before His crucifixion when asked “What good thing shall I do that I might have eternal life?” Jesus replied, “If you will enter into life, keep the commandments.”  He was then asked, “Which?”  Jesus then quotes five of the Ten Commandments.  Since He omitted quoting the other five, does that mean half of the Ten Commandments are no longer in force?  (See Matthew 19:16-22).  In telling this man to keep the commandments in order to be saved, Jesus was merely saying, “Repent!”  What does one repent of?  Sin!  What is sin?  “Sin is the transgression of the law.”  (See I John 3:4).  Anyone who thinks they can inherit eternal life while breaking the Ten Commandments is deceived!

In Colossians 3:16, Paul tells these believers to “let the words of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”  Imagine the impact on the minds of these Colossian believers as they sung such Psalms as Psalm 103:17-18, “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him and His righteousness unto children’s children to such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them.”  Or, Psalm 111:7-8, “The works of His hands are verity and judgment.  ALL His commandments are sure.  They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.”  Or, Psalm 112:1, “Praise ye the Lord.  Blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that delights greatly in His commandments.”

Remember, the Colossians didn’t have nineteen hundred years of Sunday observance to sway their thinking.  Early believers saw no reason to abandon the Sabbath as in Acts 22:19 we read that when Jesus appeared to Paul in a vision and commanded him to leave Jerusalem, Paul’s argument to Jesus for remaining there was, “Lord they (these rulers in Jerusalem) know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee.”  There was no synagogue worship on Sunday! These early believers were sabbath keepers.

In the 8th chapter of Luke, we are in the early part of Christ’s earthly ministry, and we read: “He went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God, and the twelve were with Him, and certain women…Mary called Magdalene…and Joanna.”  And then in the 23rd chapter of Luke it is recorded that these women, after seeing Christ’s crucified body laid in the tomb, “returned (to Galilee), and prepared spices and ointments, AND RESTED THE SABBATH DAY ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDMENT” (verse 56).  Nothing Jesus had said during His three year ministry even hinted that God’s holy Sabbath would be changed in any manner.  These women wouldn’t violate the sacredness of the Sabbath even to anoint the Messiah’s mutilated body even knowing time was of the essence to do so as putrefaction would be setting in immediately!  The blinding POWER of Satan is staggering in these matters.

I wouldn’t give the average preacher a copper penny for his chances of escaping the discipline of God at the judgment of believers.  I am not saying they will not inherit eternal life.  I AM saying their loss will still be staggering.

And what do you think James meant when he wrote, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point (let’s say the fourth commandment), he is guilty of all.”  (See James 2:10).  James knew that a willful commandment breaker has a tenuous hold on the Holy Spirit of God, or, more accurately, the Holy Spirit has a tenuous hold on that person’s mind and life.  He might not break all ten of the commandments literally and overtly, but he will break the other nine either in thought, word of deed at some time.  He will commit adultery in his heart, or covet, or idolize something or someone, etc.  He will be guilty of all as he, at one time or another, will break them all in thought, word or deed.

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

 just why has God evidently insisted upon calling Himself the God OF ISRAEL.  Remember, He calls Himself that one hundred and eighty-eight times in the scriptures and only once calls Himself the God of the Gentiles (i.e., nations). (See Romans 3:29). Primarily, for the present time, for the Creator is the God of ONE nation – the nation Israel.  Jesus, this God of Israel, declares “other sheep I have (the Gentiles), which are not of this fold (Israel), them also I must bring (to Israel), and they shall hear my voice (so as to understand and respond), AND THERE SHALL BE ONE FOLD, AND ONE SHEPHERD” (See John 10:16).  And that one fold is the spiritual house of Israel!!!  There are not two bodies of Christ – a Gentile fold and an Israelite, or Jewish, fold.  There is but ONE fold, one body of Christ – and that body of Christ is spiritual Israel.  This is a basic, fundamental doctrine of scripture, and unless rightly understood literally hundreds of scriptures remain locked to the understanding of not just the world but locked to the understanding of believers – even many “preachers!” 

For some reason God is seeing fit to impart to your minds a truth closed to multitudes of Christians, or at least those who call themselves such.  Satan has a greater understanding of this truth than most ministers, and that is pathetic, reprehensible, tragic, but nonetheless TRUE!  That is why Satan moved early on to divide the body of Christ into two folds – a sabbath keeping fold and a Sunday keeping fold.  Seeing his success, he then moved quickly to divide and subdivide these two bodies into scores of differing, dissenting, bickering organizations by introducing denominationalism.  And his success has been staggering. 

I spoke in an earlier segment as to how Satan had a masterstroke of genius when he moved to confuse believers into thinking the terms Old Testament and Old Covenant were synonymous thereby leading some believers into thinking the Old Testament had, in a sense, been abolished or done away with – no longer used to formulate doctrine or determine God’s will in a given matter.  His second masterstroke of genius was to deceive some believers, and, yes, it has proven to be the majority of believers, that God’s sacred, holy, ETERNAL Sabbath was changed from the seventh day of the weekly cycle to the first day of the week, from Saturday (actually from sunset Friday till sunset Saturday) to Sunday!  Many believers are convinced God authorized this change in honor of Christ’s resurrection – a belief that is without one shred of scriptural authority or proof.  The God of Israel meets in fellowship with spiritual Israel on the Sabbath – always has and always will.  That is not to say we cannot have marvelous, valid fellowship with God on the other six days of the week.  We can and should, but scripture plainly reveals that God “blessed and sanctified” the seventh day.  (See Genesis 2:1-3).  No such language is ever used of the first day of the week, Sunday.  In God’s eyes Sunday is a regular work day, a day as common as any other!  Paul’s writings have been perverted, distorted, misinterpreted to supposedly show that Sunday is the “Christian” sabbath.  Not so!  To be continued…… 

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

 Paul told the believers in Rome, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime (by the prophets of the “Old Testament” era) were written for OUR learning” (Romans 15:4).  Yes, the writings of these prophets were to comprise “the Bible” of these “New Covenant” Christians!  They had no New Testament.  The New Testament was just then coming into being piecemeal, here a little, there a little.  They had no way of knowing that this very letter written to them by Paul would be preserved along with other letters he and other apostles would write and would eventually, CENTURIES LATER, be called “the New Testament!”  Now perhaps it makes more sense why Peter, in writing New Covenant believers and speaking of the prophets of Old Testament times, told them that it was “the Spirit of Christ which was in them” prompting them to write the things they wrote, “unto whom it was revealed that NOT unto themselves (their own era, their own fleshly Israelite nation), BUT UNTO US THEY DID MINISTER the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost send down from heaven, which things the angels desire to look into” (See I Peter 1:10-12). 

Notice, Peter says it was the Spirit of Christ in these prophets of old that prompted them to write what they did.  Therefore, when reading these prophets and reading where they say over and over again, “Thus saith the Lord” what they are actually saying is “Thus saith THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!”  And when these prophets say, “Thus saith the Lord to Israel,” they are actually saying, “Thus saith the Lord Jesus Christ TO SPIRITUAL ISRAEL – TO THE CHURCH” in many, but not all instances. Bear this in mind when reading Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, as well as the rest of the prophets.  Those believers who neglect to read and study these Hebrew prophets cut themselves off from vast oceans of truth and can have no real understanding of even the Greek scriptures – what men call the New Testament! 

No wonder there are dozens and dozens of differing, dissenting, opposing denominations in the “Christian” religion!  All who call themselves “New Testament” believers and neglect to consult what Christ is saying through these prophets are guaranteed to embrace tremendous error in their beliefs and teachings.  Paul would say to them what he said to the assembly at Corinth: “Now in this that I declare unto you, I praise you not, that you come together not for the better, but for the worse” (See I Corinthians 11:17).  Some of my neighbors think I am wrong, even ungodly, because I do not attend “worship” services with them in these erring assemblies.  But when I do attend such assemblies I hear gross, far-reaching error being proclaimed from the pulpits of these “churches” as God’s truth.  I realize that they are coming together not for the better, but for the worse.  In speaking of how God dramatically punished the fleshly Israelites of Moses’ time, Paul says, “Now all these things happened unto them for examples, AND THEY ARE WRITTEN FOR OUR ADMONITION upon whom the ends of the world are come” (See I Corinthians 10:1-11).  Yes, they were written for our learning, for our admonition, for our warning, to instruct us – spiritual Israel, God’s true church!  God help you to understand is my prayer.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

I have had a couple of dreams.  Dreams that were not prompted by something I saw on television or the internet.  Dreams that were totally surprising to me and totally real.  In one of them my life was spared again while others around me died. 

I have shared the text from 2 Chronicles 16:9 before.  That’s the text that says, “the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth (that would include Ohio, Kentucky, New Jersey and the remotest village in China) to show Himself strong on the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him (or who place God first in their life in everything, at all times).”  Other Bible texts indicate that angels act as the “eyes of the Lord.”  They are constantly on the watch to guard and protect those who serve the Lord wholeheartedly and in truth.  These spirit beings are countless in number.  In Revelation 5:11 they are described as being myriads and myriads!  They probably far outnumber the world’s population at any time.

Those who do not have the Spirit of God are totally cut off from the spirit world.  It is totally foreign to them.  Outside their thinking or belief.  They are as unaware of the spirit world as a day old infant is unaware of the activity in Times Square in New York City.  Mankind lost contact with the spirit world when Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden.  That contact is regained only through total surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord.  Until that occurs one can only postulate, surmise, wonder, or imagine.  God wasn’t kidding when He said, “You will seek me and you will find me when you search for me with all your heart!” (See Jeremiah 29:13).  Multitudes, unaware he said that, think they found him through some momentary religious experience.  But they only found religion – not their Creator.

Multiplied thousands of Muslims are employed at sensitive sites around America.  They are sleepers.  At some point there is going to arise in the United States an imam or ayatollah of fiery oratory that will awaken many of these sleepers to the need to honor Mohammad and the Koran by killing as many infidels as possible in order to hasten the setting up of an Islamic government in this country.  I trust I shall have long been in my grave at that point.

The demon Allah is stirring up as much hatred as possible against President Trump.  Trump is Allah’s enemy.  The attacks against Trump will not diminish.  They will but grow more and more vitriolic while gaining more and more supporters and protestors against Trump and his administration.

America is in deep, deep trouble and the average American hasn’t the slightest clue as to what is occurring in this nation and around the world.  The handwriting is on the wall.  God have mercy on all those who cannot read it.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

New York City should be renamed New Sodom and Los Angeles should be renamed New Gomorrah!  Salt Lake City might well be called New Babylon.  Sodom and Gomorrah did not have one-thousandth of the light and understanding God has afforded all of America since the days of the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia in 1607.  For well over two full centuries this nation has been informed of how our Creator views the slaying of infants not yet born, as well as how he views the various and sundry sexually immoral lifestyles millions of Americans have adopted.

GOD JUDGES SIN!  If I know nothing else, I know that God judges sin by the hard and lengthy punishments I have endured in my own life.  Go to Sodom.  Visit Gomorrah.  Stand on the windswept desolate plains where those cities once stood, and listen to the words of warning that will echo through your mind: “God judges sin!”

America, your days of prosperity and peace are numbered – and they are quite few.  Every empire, kingdom and government on earth enjoys a time of rising and endure a time of falling.  America, your fall has now begun and great shall be your ruin when the fullness of God’s wrath is poured out upon you.

As I have been saying for years now: America, fasten your seatbelt because you are in for a very rough ride.  Covid-19, the forest fires, flooding and tornadoes!  Those are just the beginning of the devastation that lies ahead.  America has yet to see the one thousand year hurricanes that will reduce large parts of this country to utter ruin.

America, though you have forgotten God, He remembers you and warns, “I change not!”  Read the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel and contemplate the mind-boggling judgments God brought upon His beloved city of Jerusalem and Israel His dear son.  Yes, read the prophets, and with Jeremiah weep in light of what your Creator must hold in store for these United States.  Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth for their grave shall prove to be their hiding place from the horrors to come.

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Most people accept carelessly what they are taught from childhood. And, coming into maturity, they accept that which they have repeatedly heard, read or been taught. Mormon boys and girls make good Mormon teenagers, who, in turn, make excellent Mormon parents. Of course, you can insert “Baptist,” “Methodist,” “Lutheran,” “Roman Catholic,” etc., actually any denominational stripe or color you wish. The overwhelming majority of humanity continue to go along with their peers, or whatever religious authority figures they may have in their realm of existence, usually without question. Humans have a rather curious habit of ASSUMING we are right in whatever we have come to believe, especially if most every human we come into close contact with believe as we do. And many, if not most, will vigorously and often emotionally defend their religious convictions.

A student in Germany studying world history is instructed in one version of World War I and II, but a history student in America or Russia is taught a somewhat different version. And sometimes that difference can be staggering! Likewise with seminary or Bible college students. A Baptist college student is taught a whole set of different doctrines than is taught at the nearby Pentecostal college or Roman Catholic seminary.

It is far more difficult to Unlearn an erroneous supposed truth than it is to learn a new truth. Of course, what may be a “new” truth to one is an ages old truth to others. The Baptist KNOWS that he has plenty of scripture to back him up in his “once saved, always saved” doctrine. Likewise, the Presbyterian KNOWS he has plenty of scripture supporting his stand on election and predestination. The Pentecostal preacher has no doubt he sees and understands the truth regarding the baptism of the Holy Ghost with “tongues” as a sign thereof.

Why, in general, are people in Thailand Buddhist; those in Italy, France and Spain Catholic; those in the Arab world Islamic? Primarily, of course, because they and those around them grew up being taught, and automatically accepting, those faiths. To expect one of them to discover the truth (hidden from them and also contrary to the teachings of childhood and adulthood that engulfed them) would seem to be expecting the impossible. Why do most people believe the things they believe? Few, indeed, ever stop to ask themselves in retrospect how they came to accept the beliefs they have long accepted as easily proven Bible doctrine. 

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Besides being Creator of all that exists, and Ruler over that creation, God is also mankind’s Educator, who reveals knowledge beyond and outside the scope of human ability to discover and know on its own. But, in order to attain that knowledge and to come to know the truth in spiritual matters, one MUST be teachable. The Baptist, the Episcopalian, and the Mennonite, as well as any other “religious” personality must come to grips with the FACT that, being human, they can embrace error while fervently believing they have and know the truth in any given area. Pride must give way to humility before error can give way to truth. And disobedience must give way to obedience “that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand Thy (God’s) truth” (See Daniel 9:13). I urge you to think on these things deeply.

Christ’s Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Have you ever tried to reason with a Mormon elder?  I have – dozens of them two at a time.  It’s like trying to reason with your cat when it has just jumped up on the dining table and coughed up a fur ball in your bowl of split pea soup.  You’ll find you make no progress whatsoever.  Notice the look on your cat’s face.  Now look at the Mormon elder’s face.  IT’S THE SAME LOOK!

Spiritual truth cannot be force fed.  That is one of the hardest truths I ever had to learn.  I thought, “If I quote enough scripture, and if I refer to each and every scripture in proper sequence, starting with the basic foundational scriptures and then building thereon in a calm manner, and if I use good, sound reasoning, my hearer will have to finally conclude, ‘I see what you are saying.  Yes, I agree with you!'”  Not so.  Not so at all.  Try it with your cat first.  I guarantee you that you will have success with the cat before you succeed with the Mormon, or anyone else who has embraced spiritual error in some of their beliefs or doctrines.

Then why do I continue to write Bible based articles, expounding on doctrines I realize most other Christian believers do not believe or accept as Bible truth?  Because I am a sower of seed.  That is my function in the body of Christ.  I have no choice in the matter just as my heart has no choice in the function it performs.  Also, I have no way of knowing what mind or minds might or might not be receptive to God’s Word.  I am continually surprised when someone communicates with me by email, letter or phone call and says that they are overjoyed and consider themselves greatly blessed at having received some article I have written and sent to them via email, my website, or by U.S. Mail.

The Lord’s parable of the sower and the seed is found in three of the four gospel accounts: Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20 and Luke 8:4-15.  In that parable Jesus describes four different types of hearers.  Only one of the four types is described as having the ability to receive the Word, act upon it, and produce fruit.  I never know when sowing the Master’s seed upon what type of ground the seed has fallen.  Often it falls on rocky ground and does not take hold at all.  Some falls by the wayside and is trodden down immediately or Satan takes it away quickly.  Then some falls upon ground that also produces weeds and thorns and the Word is quickly choked and dies.  The harvest is neither my responsibility or function.  I shall ever remain a mere sower of seed.

Someday I shall have to give account to the Lord of the harvest as to how I have fulfilled my duties.  He will not hold me responsible for those who refused to hear or who heard and failed to act upon what they heard.  He WILL hold me responsible for what I said and taught.  If I teach error, I shall give full account for having done so.  And I can suffer great eternal loss if I have taught error.  That is WHY I keep myself surrendered fully to the LORDship of Jesus Christ and it is why I continue to read the scriptures daily even though I long ago completed the reading of the entire Bible many dozens of times.  And I am ready to be called into the throne room and face my Lord.  Are YOU?