#imPostorOfImpunity

2 Timothy 3:1-17
...while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

While Kenyans are busy lamenting the conduct of the #PastorOfImpunity on Twitter, the national media houses are awash with news about him, there is a family weeping the loss of their loved ones over his traffic and criminal offences. However, there are two persons who are unmoved by the tragedy - the subject of discussion and one, Inspector General of Police. For the former it is not surprising but for the latter, it is shocking, because we don't pay him to defend criminals, we pay him to arrest and facilitate their prosecution.

I turn to my pen to write this because there are those on Twitter who are thinking that this Maina's conduct is a surprise - it is not. God has written in His Word about it, -  ...while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. Apostle Paul (the true apostle, chosen by Christ and not self-proclaimed, like the subject of this article) led by the Holy Spirit writes of these perilous times when people will simply be in love with money and will do anything to get it. If you put up a poster telling people that you can help them greet Obama, they will immediately flock your house and jam the telephone line calling you - how much more if you promise them health and wealth? This is how Maina has made it - he has gathered birds of his feather. People who want to strike it rich as he has. What he does not tell them, is that he needs them to strike it rich. Those who have become as wise as he is, have gone round planting their own dukas in the with a signpost reading, 'church' or 'ministry' or 'centre' somewhere. In addition, they have a cheer leading team who are able to shout their throats hoarse at his behest, over a blaring sound system. Go round this country and you will see many of these, usually ironsheets building will be their trademark for the  ignorant and undiscerning, but for the discerning, their teachings are based on their minds rather than the truth, the preach against suffering, they promise health, wealth and happiness here and now. They tell you that you have been bewitched, or under a curse that only they can remove, and at a fee of course! How convenient for them!

The government thinks that those who flock such places are innocent unsuspecting citizens. I'll not deny that there are a few who are unsuspecting. However, those who have been in these places for years, have been opening up their bibles, they see things that do not tally and still come the following Sunday are not innocent, they are part of the gave. This is why his loyal followers will soon come out to defend this impunity. But if you frequent such a place and you see the obvious irreverent behaviour and ungodliness and still go there? NO you must not return their to take more religious crap from religious impostors.

Who is a religious Impostor?

Consider the description of an impostor description on 1 Timothy 3:2ff.

• lovers of self, 
• lovers of money, 
• proud, 
• arrogant, 
• abusive, 
• disobedient to their parents (and authorities for that matter), 
• ungrateful, 
• unholy,
• heartless, 
• unappeasable, 
• slanderous, 
• without self-control, 
• brutal, 
• not loving good,
• treacherous, 
• reckless, 
• swollen with conceit, 
• lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
• having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

I barely need to expound this unfortunate conduct because it is obvious for those who have had their eyes opened by God. Unless you have the Spirit of God, your discernment faculties may fail you when you greatly need them. However, it is not more than common sense that is needed to know what is required of you. Open your Bible, read and study it, and you will soon agree with me.

What are you do with the imposters?
The godly counsel is very simple, too simple even, that a toddler cannot miss it. AVOID SUCH PEOPLE (v.5). Do not listen to them whether live or on TV - you would not invite Mr. Maina to your home, would you? Then don't invite him by proxy, whether by media or otherwise. Because once you do that, he will creep into your home with religious poison and a dose of spiritual poison can send your soul to eternal hell. He is disqualified regarding the faith (v. 8).


Thank God for He has also said in His life-giving word, But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.(v. 9) God will soon deal with them, even if the state agencies fail. They will soon be exposed and I assure you that they cannot cheat the fires of hell will rage against them, if they won't repent, if they won't believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who truly and eternally saves sinners, even the chief of sinners.

The Word of God, the Bible is what you need to follow closely. For Apostle Paul counsels Timothy, You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Follow those who teach the truth, even if it means crossing the town, or spending the fare to where there is biblical teaching and godliness. It may costs you leg and toe, but go for it. Evaluate their teaching as well as their conduct. Look at their ambitions. Assess their faith, and look consider their patience and moderation in life. Find out if they are persevering in faith or are shipwrecking their faith. Do they endure persecutions for Christ? If not then know that they are impostors. Simply put, true ministers of the gospel and of God have teachings, conduct, ambitions, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, and persecutions that worthy to be emulated and lived by others.

Endure persecution and difficulties of whatever sort, for the sake of the truth. Apostle Paul dispensed with the comforts of this life to take the gospel to others. It is not much for you to endure suffering for the cause of Christ, remember what the Lord went through on the cross in order to purchase our redemption. He suffered, died, and buried for our salvation, will you not be willing to give all for the sake of His name to be known and bring eternal good to others?

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The Scriptures are inspired. It is the very breath of God. Dreams, visions, human prophetic utterances and all other forms of extra-biblical revelations are not. At best they may be godly counsel, and at worse they could be the asp of poison that can kill you soul. This makes that the Scriptures have the authority of God. Listen to them, read, mark your Bible as one who is hearing the very voice of God, for that is what it is. As a Christian you shall live by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God, if you will be able to overcome the raging temptations of the devil.

The Scriptures are sufficiently profitable. They are from God and are true redemptive revelation. It is through the Word of God that one is made wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. If you want life then take breath the breath of God - His Word. The are sufficiently profitable for teaching you biblical doctrines. They are sufficiently profitable for rebuking when you are in sin with are aim of correcting you into what is true. They are sufficiently profitable for training you in righteousness so that you are complete in true, in godliness and equipped for the service of God.

The Scriptures are infallible being God's breath. Read the Word of God and you will be hearing from God Himself, who cannot err. This is to say that the Scriptures to be absolutely inerrant.

If you are without salvation, without Christ and without hope, then call upon Christ and He will save you. Ask Him to show you His mercy and repent of all your sins.

We shall not Bow - and we must not bow

This morning, together with my family, we considered Daniel 3 and were moved by the bluntness, the resilience and the firmness of the faith of Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego when they told the powerful king Nebuchadnezzar, risking being thrown in the 'burning fiery furnace'. And they were indeed cast into the furnace but God came through for them and protected them - not that they were fearing death. They did not fear a man, who can only kill the body but not the soul.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king,

"O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." 

Dan 3:16-18.

This message has been hammered home by Pastor John MacArthur in this video

We must warn this generation that has made a comfy bed and slept with sin:- sin of contraception, abortion, homosexuality among others and so destroying the created order of God; shattering families and so committing terrorism and human atrocities. We must not bow to Caesar when demands are made on us to sin against God.

We must say no even at the cost of our lives and preach the gospel to this fallen world, we must tell them of the saving grace of God in Christ. We must speak against sin and point out that they must repent of their sins and believe in Christ for their salvation, even eternal salvation. For a day comes when God's wrath, judgment, punishment and retribution will be revealed against all ungodliness and all who practice wickedness.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 
1Corinthians 6:9-11.

Be on your guard!

Jacob I love but Esau I hate

 LESSONS & APPLICATIONS FROM THE BOOK OF OBADIAH:

1.      The enmity of the seed of the serpent toward the Seed of the woman shall never cease so long as time stands

Before Esau and Jacob were born, the Lord God declared that the elder must serve the younger – when they had done neither good nor evil so that the purpose of God of election may stand. And so it shall be forever. As Moses declared that Ham must serve Shem and Japheth, God’s Word regarding Jacob and Esau is but a declaration of God’s purpose to assure the hearts of chosen, redeemed sinners that the reprobate of this world can do us no harm. They only serve the interests of our souls as vessels of showcasing His holy justice. The stiff-necked Pharaoh could go this far in his obstinacy – the Lord exposed his pride and in drowning his army. Jannes and Jambres gave Moses a fit, withstanding him to the face at every turn; but they could proceed no further (Ex. 7:11; 2 Tim. 3:8-9). And those who oppose God’s people in this world, those who abuse, mistreat, and persecute God’s people in this world cannot hurt them. They only accomplish God’s will in service to us.  This must serve to make us learn the glorious purposes of God so that we overwhelm with joy as we look forward to the time when all the things present shall be rolled away like a scroll and we shall be given that we which is eternally good, the inheritance undefiled, imperishable and unfading that God has reserved in heaven for His people.  Meanwhile He is guarding us through faith!

The enmity of Edom toward Israel, the enmity of Esau against his brother Jacob began long before Obadiah came on the scene. It began while the two boys were still in their mother’s womb. It is an enmity manifest throughout history. It is the enmity Cain had for Abel, the enmity of Babylon against Israel, the enmity of Herod against the incarnate Son of God, the enmity of the Judaizers against Paul, the enmity of the religious world against the Kingdom of God. It is a never ceasing, unabated, ever-increasing enmity. It is the enmity of the dragon of hell against the Woman of God’s choice (Rev. 12). The dragon ever tries to slay the Seed of the Woman but must not and shall not prevail as we have seen in 1.

What is that enmity? It is the vile, base, deep-seated hatred of all who proudly presume that they can be saved by their own works, saved without God, against all who are saved by free grace alone, trusting Christ alone, looking to him alone for redemption, righteousness and everlasting salvation. If any thinks this enmity is imaginary, let him read a page or two of history, or of this morning’s paper! This enmity has produced martyrs from saints. It is this enmity that informed the decision of the American Supreme Court on Friday on same-sex relationships (I dare not call them marriage!) The purpose of God cannot be hindered, thwarted, or frustrated  (v.2)

2.      Self-deceiving pride of the hearts is what destroys all who perish under the wrath of God (3-9)

Jeremiah 17:9 – The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? We must not be deceived by the deceitfulness of heart as to fail to remember how great was the Fall of our first parents. The depravity of human beings is total, not partial. It renders every Tom, Dick and Mary incapable of any spiritual good. The Fall consists of the sinfulness leading to the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the lack of original righteousness, the corruption of the whole nature together with all actual transgressions which proceed from this state. It produces sinners, for the misery upon which the Fall brought man-made him to lose communion with God, incurring the full wrath and curse of God, and so made liable to all the miseries in this life, to death itself and in the time to come pains of hell forever.

 Consider this self-deceiving pride in these words;

The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, "Who will bring me down to the ground?" Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD.

Edom represents all those vain men and women who, like Esau, despising Christ presume that they can go it alone, that they can ascend to heaven by their own will, their own works, and their own goodness. They hide themselves in what they think is an impregnable rock of morality, on a high hill of experience, and say, “All is well. I am secure. Who shall bring me down?”  Yet they forget their utter helpless in doing themselves any eternal good. For this reason of pride, many are the times when God gives them up to wallow in their depravity and wickedness to their own punishment. They imagine that they are in the clefts of rocks when they are exposed to the destruction of the devil; they think that they are in the lofty dwelling when they are the bottomless dark pit, they are deceive themselves! Their folly tells them that they have their mansions upon the stars – no! They will soon know the power of the Almighty who they have disdained in their wicked pride. For God has vowed and will not change His mind, He shall bring them down!

You would expect thieves and grape gatherers to leave something of the harvest behind, yet Edom will be thoroughly plundered with nothing left behind… If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? Consider how it is completely ransacked – destroyed, pillaged, sought out. These past tense verbs about a future event displays the fact that in the mind of God, this is as good as done. You notice that some of this destruction work is accomplished by her ‘allies’ and ‘those at peace with you’ and ‘those who eat your bread’ and all this happened, without ‘understanding’. God uses both allies and enemies to execute His judgment. Edom shall be spoiled, and brought down. God can easily lay those low who magnify and exalt themselves; and will do it. Carnal security ripens men for ruin, and makes the ruin worse when it comes. Treasures on earth cannot be so safely laid up but that thieves may break through and steal; it is therefore our wisdom to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven. Those that make flesh their trust, arm it against themselves.

All the enemies of God's church shall be disappointed in the things they stay themselves on. The God of our covenant will never deceive us: but if we trust men with whom we join ourselves, it may prove to us a wound and dishonour. God will justly deny those understanding to keep out of danger, who will not use their understandings to keep out of sin. You must not forget or underestimate the power of evil.

For this reason, all who suffer the wrath and judgment of God perish under the just judgment of the Almighty because of their own sins (vv. 10-17). May I state this with equal force ― No one goes to hell because of God’s purpose. Vessels of mercy are prepared by grace for glory. Vessels of wrath fit themselves for destruction. This is what they did and has eternal consequences: “Because of the violence…shame shall cover you and you shall be cut off forever.” All violence, all unrighteousness, is sin; but it makes the violence far worse, if it be done against any of God's people. Their barbarous conduct towards Judah and Jerusalem, is charged upon them. Men and women go to hell because of their own, obstinate, wilful rebellion and unbelief.

This is what they did not do, it also has implications: “You stood aloof… you were like one of them. So many times sins of omissions are as good as commission – for to know the good that you ought to do and not to do it is sin.

In reflecting on ourselves, it is good to consider what we should have done to help the people of God. You have a great deal to answer for, if you are idle spectator of the troubles of your neighbours, when able to be active helper. Though judgment begins at the house of God, it shall not end there. Let sorrowful believers and insolent oppressors know, that the troubles of the righteous will soon end, but those of the wicked will be eternal. Edom, the whole nation, followed the example of their father Esau. The whole nation followed their father straight to hell! None are ever saved by the examples of others; but multitudes perish forever by the examples of others! 

Esau is in hell today because he despised Christ, because he preferred the world to the Son of God, because he preferred a bowl of beans to gratify his flesh for a moment to God’s eternal inheritance of grace. Edom perished for exactly the same reason. That nation perished because of her hatred of God and his people, as displayed in their conduct. 

3.         The everlasting salvation of God’s elect is a matter of absolute certainty

(Oba 1:17-21)  "But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. {18} And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it. {19} And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. {20} And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south. {21} And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S." 

Here, Obadiah, by the Spirit of prophecy, looks beyond the range of time to that last great day when Christ shall come again in his glory. In that day… 

•        There shall be holiness everywhere.

•        The whole house of Jacob shall possess their God-given, divinely purchased, rightful possessions.

•        Jacob shall be a fire and Esau shall be stubble before him (Ps. 137). 

•        The kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our God (Rev. 11:15). 

4.         The only hope for proud sinners is the Lord Jesus Christ

What is your choice? Will you follow Esau to hell, choosing that which gratifies the flesh; or will you follow Jacob, choosing Christ for your everlasting portion?

There should be deliverance and holiness at Jerusalem, and the house of Jacob would again occupy their possessions. Much of this prophecy was fulfilled when the Jews returned to their own land, to their portion. But the salvation and holiness of the gospel, its spread, and the conversion of the Gentiles, seem also to be intended, especially the restoration of Israel, the destruction of antichrist, and the prosperous state of the church, to which all the prophets bear witness. When Christ is come, and not till then, shall the kingdom be the Lord's in the full sense of the term. As none that exalt themselves against the Lord shall prosper, and all shall be brought down. None that wait upon the Lord, and put their trust in him, shall ever be dismayed. Blessed be the Divine Saviour and Judge on Mount Zion! His word shall be a savour of life unto life unto numbers, while it judges and condemns obstinate unbelievers.

Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated

The Message of Obadiah

           Obadiah 1-21             

The book of Obadiah is the shortest Book in the Old Testament, just 21 verses. We read it in just a few minutes. At first glance, it appears to be nothing but an insignificant prophecy of doom against the ancient nation of Edom, which has long ago disappeared from history. 

But, you ask, what do you or I have to do with Edom? Edom is a nation buried in the rubble of the past, what has it to do with us now in the 21^st century in Nairobi? Yet, the very fact that this little Book finds its place in the inspired Scripture, breathed out by God, sufficiently tells us that its message is for us. For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Rom 15:4) 

There are 13 men in the Old Testament named Obadiah. The name means "servant of the Lord," or “worshipper of the Lord.” Like a true servant and worshipper of God, Obadiah keeps himself in the background, in utter obscurity so that there is very little information known about him – what should be known about the servant anyway? This is one of the reasons, I believe, there is wisdom in the preacher not introducing himself with so many words. I would rather you say nothing about you, but be faithful about the One who sent you. It is His business anyway!

Yes... for Obadiah, it is His Master, our God who matters! He faithfully brings us His Word. He simply steps onto the stage of history, delivers God’s message, and steps down and back into obscurity. In fact, Obadiah’s only purpose and intent as God’s prophet was to deliver God’s message, that is all! What a noble example this is to all who are responsible of speaking to eternity bound sinners as God’s messengers! Those who are constantly thrusting themselves forward, building their own names need to be instructed from this message. 

In this first part I will give you a very basic outline of these 21 verses and show you a few passage from the Bible in order to shed some light on the book. Then in the second message, I will give very pointed application points.

A.     OUTLINE 

•        Vv.1-9: God’s judgment upon Edom. They were proud, thinking they were secure and invincible. But Edom was the object of God’s unwavering wrath and must be destroyed.

•        Vv. 10-14: The justice of that judgment. Edom was destroyed because of their proud and cruel treatment of God’s people Israel.

•         Vv. 15 &16: The result of God’s judgment upon the proud nation. The Edomites were crushed by Nebuchadnezzar. By the time the Romans conquered Jerusalem, Edom was but a name in history.

•        Vv. 17-21: The sure salvation for the Israel of God. Obadiah tells Edom (the house of Esau) of the sure and certain salvation of Israel (“the house of Jacob”).  

But what is Obadiah’s message to us? What is the meaning of this prophecy? What does the Spirit of God here teach us? Let’s read a few passages from the Inspired BOOK and it will become clear (Gen. 3:15; Mal. 1:2-5; Rom. 9:11-18). Remember, Edom is the whole house of Esau and Israel is the whole house of Jacob, his younger brother, the object of God’s everlasting love, mercy, and grace. 

Gen 3:15: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." Though the seed of the serpent hates, persecutes, and constantly bruises the heel of the woman’s Seed, the Seed of the woman (Christ and his body the Church of God’s elect), shall ultimately and eternally crush the serpent’s head and his seed.

Mal. 1:2-5: "I have loved you," says the LORD. But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the LORD. "Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert." If Edom says, "We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins," the LORD of hosts says, "They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called 'the wicked country,' and 'the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.'" Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, "Great is the LORD beyond the border of Israel!" 

All advantages, either as to outward circumstances, or spiritual privileges, come from the free love of God, who makes one to differ from another. All the troubles sinners feel and fear, are the just recompense of their crimes. On the other hand, all their hopes and comforts are from the unmerited mercy of the Lord. He chose his people for salvation before the foundation of the world, so that they might be holy and blameless before Him. If we love him, it is because he has first loved us; yet we all are prone to undervalue the mercies of God, and to excuse our own offences.

Rom. 9:11-18:  And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger." As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

We must realize that the rejection of the Jews by the gospel dispensation, did not break God's promise to the patriarchs. The promises and threatening shall be fulfilled at His appointed time. Grace does not run in the blood; nor are saving benefits always found with outward church privileges. Not only some of Abraham's seed were chosen, and others not, but God worked according to the counsel of his own will. Remember that He is in heaven and He does whatsoever He pleases.

God in His absolute sovereignty foresaw both Esau and Jacob as born in sin, by nature children of wrath even as all others including you and I. If left to ourselves we would have continued in sin through this life. However, for His wise and holy reasons, not made known to us, He purposed to change Jacob's heart, and to leave Esau to his perverseness to display both His grace and justice respectively. This instance of Esau and Jacob throws light upon the Divine conduct to the fallen race of man. The whole Scripture shows the difference between the professed Christian and the real believer. Outward privileges are bestowed on many who are not the children of God. There is, however, full encouragement to diligent use of the means of grace which God has appointed for those so graciously endowed that He May work in us to will to do the good pleasure of His will.

This is something that ought to cause all of us to bow in worship as we ejaculate with Apostle Paul;

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 

Romans 11:33.