Letter To Pastor John Ben Tay, Tema - Ghana
(A Slandering and Lying Pastor)
19 February, 2020
Dear Bro John B. Tay,
Two brothers called my attention to a video sermon you preached last December (2019) in which you slandered against “an apostle from Singapore”. I copied out the particular part of that video for your reference. Also, here are the two main slanders you punched out against me in your own words (from the video sermon):
Please clarify how am I “the corrector of every preacher”? Which preacher have I corrected, and how many of the “every preacher” are there? And, did you really, and have you really, come up to me in Lyon, France, to have rebuked me like you dramatized that you did in your closing sermon: “I told him plainly, ‘God had not given you control over my ministry. You are not a supervisor of my ministry.’”? If you did, how is it that I was not aware? Do you think that I would just sit there for you to slander?
When you said “the corrector of every preacher“, what do you mean by “corrector”? Did I correct their ministries and their doctrines? What is it? Be specific. Am I someone like Dalton Bruce or even someone like Cohen G. Reckart, an anti-Branham preacher? You must have read some of my messages, and perhaps even watched a video sermon or two from my website. If you have, you must have known that I don’t correct preachers, their ministries or their doctrines UNLESS they slander and lie about me, twist my teachings, put words into my mouth and play the hypocrites that affects the spiritual lives of Bible Believers, especially those with me. And you have done just that in your 2019 Christmas convention.
The spirit of Americanism is filled with pride and arrogance. And even many American ETM preachers are behaving high and mighty, passing the Americanism spirit to other ministers in other nations. (America is portrayed by the Second Beast of Revelation which has Two Horns like a lamb and speaks like a dragon (serpent). There is a lot of deception. Dishonest actions destroyed the foundation of its principles. Inevitably, intolerance and persecution prevailed in its political system, and then crept into the religious system. Preachers are behaving like politicians, conniving, manipulating and lying.)
In my books – RELIGO and IF YOU WILL BE SINCERE – those names mentioned there are those who either have LIED, TWISTED MY WORDS, PLAYED THE HYPOCRITES, DECEIVED and DAMAGED THE LIVES OF MANY BELIEVERS. Did I correct their ministries or doctrines? Or did I correct them on their lying to their congregation and followers around the world? Do you expect me to sit idly on a fence and watch the lying spirit come forth from the mouth of those preachers who think BIG about themselves (because they have a BIG church) or they want a BIG church and a pedestal for themselves that they have to resort to lying and manipulating people, their listeners, against other preachers whom they feel are threatening their ministries? Is that what you felt I was doing to you that you have to lie in your preaching – “He has made himself the corrector of every preacher…I told him plainly, ‘God had not given you control over my ministry. You are not a supervisor of my ministry.’”?
I knew you back in the ‘80s and you invited me to be the main speaker. There were two American ministers there. Well, I went because you knew Bro. Raymond Jackson and therefore his teachings. Also we are basically standing with the Holy Bible as our Absolute. But it turned out that you took side with those Branhamic ministers who attacked my message that I preached on the first service, and even at breakfast and during the Ministers’ Meeting. [By the way, where are those two Branhamic preachers today? Like them many of such foolish Branhamic faith will sink where they stand.] Were you offended because I spoke the Truth in my message and during the Ministers’ Meeting? Sometime later you wrote a letter putting forth questions to me and Jackson over the differences in our teachings, and asked which of us had the correct teachings? Of course you have a motive for writing that letter. However, I replied you that Jackson may be right or he may be wrong; and the same goes for me. I advised you to put whatever you did not understand on the shelf and pray the Lord to open them up to you. But Jackson took your letter to the pulpit, and not only did he accuse me of mischief but also twisted statements out of my books, and accused me of teachings what I did not teach. His so doing that was to defend his teachings because he believed in unity in which all must see eye to eye, which, of course, must be according to his. I have a pile of letters and cassette tapes of correspondence between us over your letter of questions. He could not produce statements from my books where he said I taught “such and such” a doctrine. You can read it in my messages IF YOU WILL BE SINCERE and RELIGO. The main issues he had with me are: 1) Noah’s genetics, and 2) the Sin of Ham. Well, you know where I stand on those subjects. (If you must know, all my years with Bro Jackson, I have not only defended him when others spoke ill of him and his doctrines, but I have also enlarged his ministry by sending out ‘The Contender’ papers to Christians around the world whose names are on my ministry list. Had you not written your letter, would events have turned out differently?)
After that incident, you and I barely had any contact until we met in Brussel, Belgium, at Leonard Lifese’s convention. We met in Lifese’s car when he came to pick me, but it was later in the afternoon, at lunch, that you asked if I was the Richard Gan of Singapore. I replied you, and you apologized for the problem of the past caused by your letter (to Jackson). I accepted and said that it was not mainly your fault as it was Jackson’s for he took your letter to his pulpit to defend his teachings because they were raised in your letter. During the Belgium conventions, and also in France, we hardly chatted. And yet, you preached to your congregation on December 27, 2019, that in your closing sermon, “I told him plainly, ‘God had not given you control over my ministry. You are not a supervisor of my ministry’” giving the impression that I had tried to control you and that you had rebuked me
in front of the people in the meeting at Lyon. What a lie!
As ministers of the Lord, are we sent to entertain God’s people by lying about a relationship (whether good or bad, true or false) just to give ourselves a BIG PAT on the back? Why are you trying to make yourself look BIG by such a drama? The sweeping statements you made tantamount to slandering and sowing of discord among believers, causing division (Rom 16:17-18; Pro 6:12-19).
I can give you names of those who associate with me and work with me. You can write them and ask if I have ever tried to control them. There are in Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, RSA, DRC, Cameroon, Fiji, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Cambodia. Lebanon, Europe, USA and others. I mind my own ministry, and they on theirs (as you on yours) and “with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Php 1:27). “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits” (Rom 12:16). If I did correct or control a preacher over his doctrines and ministry, then I am surely guilty, being a busybody and being high minded. However, whether a preacher is in the ETM or in denominations, if he chooses to sow falsehood and discord in which I and those with me are involved, then I will defend the Truth. There is the need as in the case examples of the Apostle Paul calling out names (Philetus, Hymenaeus, and Alexander) to have believers BE AWARE of the falsehood, lies and false doctrines that such men are propagating and deceiving people. Paul would not have called those names IF there were no believers deceived and tossed about in their Faith; would he? Also, by his so doing, believers would be careful as to those "who labor among them".
Even the hypocrisy of Apostle Peter was called out by Paul in front of the Elders around them. Paul had the guts to do so, even though he (in my estimation) was about 3-5 years younger than Peter, and was also not of the original Twelve. I wonder how and what Peter must have felt there and then; and what those Elders and even Paul's runner-boys like Timothy, Silas, Titus (if they were there) must have felt too to see Paul rebuked the BIG FISHERMAN, Peter, the Spokesman on the Day of Pentecost.
I admire Peter; he uttered not a word (obviously) because he knew he was very wrong, he had done wrong. Barnabas was even deceived by him, the BIG MAN. Had Paul not rebuked Peter openly, I wonder how many believers would have been drawn into the trap, a hypocrisy that Peter knew was not right. Perhaps some of those who witnessed the open rebuke must have disagreed with Paul's method, and discussed among themselves that Paul should have instead talked to Peter secretly. (A good topic for discussion, don't you think?)
All my years as a minister I have not spoken out against false preachers, liars, manipulators, etc. who claimed to have a ministry in the Vineyard of the Lord but instead worked against God's Truth, and damaged the souls of Truth seekers, until about 20 years ago; even then, names were not mentioned until about 10 years ago. I have done this only because I was compelled to do so according to the leading of the Spirit and the examples set down by the Apostle Paul.
I have seen too many souls tossed about and badly hurt by false preachers or preachers. If you have read my message on IF YOU WILL BE SINCERE, you would have noticed that I called out Ewald Frank. He had damaged many in Africa especially those of the French speaking nations. What's the damage? Believers, mainly the preachers and elders, have taken to themselves WIVES, because of his teaching in the late 1970s to 1980s on Polygamous marriage. And there are two camps which follow him but are in conflict because he refused to sincerely reaffirm his stand on the subject of Polygamous marriage. Instead he will deny that he ever taught that a believer can have more than one wife to those who have no idea that he believe in polygamous marriage and have taught that in the early years. (I have a copy of his book and even sat at the table over this subject with him before he ever published that particular book which clearly shows his stand. His own son does not agree with his teaching of taking another wife while having one living wife.) Hence, the two camps over the issue because he refused to make clear his stand.
Brother, when we deal with Truth and people, we have to SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE (AGAPE). If we need to cover a multitude of sins (for not all sins deserve a harsh judgment from the Lord, those that only affects the guilty one himself), then we deal with the believer individually. But those that affects others in the local assembly, then within the assembly. Those that are open, then open rebuke and warn others. Perhaps you have read this on my website: LETTER TO PASTOR PETER WAN. Maybe you have, maybe you have not. Was I correcting his doctrines? Or, was I correcting him? Yes, I was exposing his lies, hypocrisy, word twisting and manipulation against me and a Nigerian minister. I did it after he refused to set right his wrong and just continued in his falsehood. Like Alexander who did much harm to Apostle Paul, so did this Peter Wan to me. I don’t care about his doctrines or his ministry, but when he (or anyone) sows discord and causes divisions by twisting my words and lying about my ministry that affects believers, I will take him on. I will not sit on the fence just to get along with everyone, ministers or believers, who is a manipulator, a hypocrite and a liar. The world is sick, and believers are caught up in the same disease and many preachers are letting the disease spread.)Well, so much for that. I would like to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Richard GanPS:
By the way, here are the emails I sent to BBF since a copy of RELIGO was requested on behalf of Pastor John Ben Tay. The email was sent me in April 2019 by someone from
bbftema@yahoo.co.uk.
Bible Believers Fellowhip wrote:
Shalom!Please, I would like to request for the copy of the book “RELIGO” on behalf of Pastor John Ben Tay.
Greetings from PASTOR JOHN BEN TAY OF TEMA - GHANA
Below is the address for postage.
Pastor John Ben Tay
Bible Believers Fellowship
P.O. BOX CS 8341
Tema, Ghana
West Africa.Thank you and God bless you.
Shalom!Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Original Message --------
Subject:
Re: Christian Greetings!!
Date:
Wed, 03 Apr 2019 15:52:41 +0800
From:
Reply-To:
Organization:
Prophetic Revelation
To:
Bible Believers Fellowhip <bbftema@yahoo.co.uk>
The RELIGO book has been mailed to you by Bro Akppan Blessing Nice of Nigeria.
Let me know if you have not received it.--
http://www.propheticrevelation.net
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-------- Original Message --------
Subject:
Fwd: Re: Christian Greetings!!
Date:
Wed, 10 Apr 2019 21:49:28 +0800
From:
Reply-To:
Organization:
Prophetic Revelation
To:
Bible Believers Fellowhip <bbftema@yahoo.co.uk>
Have you received the RELIGO book yet?
--
http://www.propheticrevelation.net
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-------- Original Message --------
Subject:
Fwd: Fwd: Re: Christian Greetings!!
Date:
Tue, 18 Jun 2019 11:20:05 +0800
From:
Reply-To:
Organization:
Prophetic Revelation
To:
Shalom.
Have you received the RELIGO books yet?
There have been some complications. Please let me know if you have received the books.--
http://www.propheticrevelation.net
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-------- Original Message --------
Subject:
IMPORTANT. Fwd: Fwd: Fwd: Re: Christian Greetings!!
Date:
Wed, 15 Jan 2020 17:57:51 +0800
From:
Reply-To:
Organization:
Prophetic Revelation
To:
Shalom.
I have yet to receive a reply from you whether or not you have received the book you requested ON BEHALF OF PASTOR JOHN TAY.
Brother/Sister (whoever you are who wrote me the email), please be considerate to response to this third time of my asking. I do not know who you are who wrote for a copy of my book ON BEHALF OF PASTOR JOHN TAY. Did he request you to write? Could he not write an email himself to me, a minister whom he personally have met in Ghana and Belgium?
I am confused. Please enlighten me.
God bless.
RGan--
http://www.propheticrevelation.net
20 February, 2020
WhatsApp Text
John Ben Tay
Christian greetings. Please at LYON, I made those statements LOOKING STRAIGHT AT YOUR FACE WHILE PREACHING THAT DAY IN YOUR PRESENCE. Please your LONG MESSAGE TO ME TODAY CONFIRMS WHAT MY CONCERNS were at the LYON PREACHING. Please the request for the RELIGO has not yet been received. Please I wish you a blessed new year. SHALOM
……..
22 February, 2020
Well, I see that you are excusing yourself by such a response. Can you be sincere and be forthright to answer my questions truthfully? You look like a man who is intellectual and spiritual. Do not be like some of the American preachers that I mentioned and exposed in my book IF YOU WILL BE SINCERE. They think nothing of throwing out to their congregation a little deception, a little distortion, a little corruption, a little pervasion, etc. in their preaching. They deceive with their lips (Pro 24:28). To them such little evil things are small things that the Lord will overlook. Do you think so? If you believe right, then live right; act responsibly, not foolishly like Apostle Peter. If you are wrong, you are wrong; if you have made a mistake, you have made a mistake. (We all do, and we should right the wrong/error - Mat 18:15-18; 5:23-24.) I am not talking about doctrines. I am talking about dishonesty, hypocrisy, falsehood, lies, manipulation, deception, etc., which are sown and cause divisions. Such sowing of seeds of discord is a deadly sin. And as a preacher should you be practicing it?
1. “Please your LONG MESSAGE TO ME TODAY CONFIRMS WHAT MY CONCERNS were at the LYON PREACHING.” What concerns? That I was the supervisor of your ministry? That I was controlling and correcting you and every preacher? Get straight to the point. Don’t sidetrack your accusation. Answer my questions. Did I correct your doctrines and also the doctrines of “every preacher”? Did I force my doctrines upon you and “every preacher”? Did I force you and “every preacher” to dance around my pulpit? Did I ever supervise your ministry? (Since the two times we met in Belgium and France, 2012 and 2014, did we ever correspond even once? Did we even correspond at all after your letter to Jackson and me in 1986?) Or are you saying that my letter to you confirmed your concerns that I was correcting the lies and falsehood of “every preacher” (and also that of yours)? If so, you are correct; that’s the reason I put out two books about such preachers. (Are you one of them mentioned in my book?) If you believe that I was wrong to do that (in those two books) then you must have believed that Apostle Paul was also wrong to openly correct his fellow-servant Peter for playing the hypocrite, and the other men (Philetus, Hymenaeus and Alexander) for false doctrines and other evils that were done to the Word of God and Paul, a servant of God. Do you think Peter would have said to Paul: “Please your long rebuke of me confirms what my concerns were everywhere I go – that you are a corrector of every preacher. And you are now correcting me, and controlling me.”? However, if Peter was innocent, do you think that he would just stand there and let Paul accuse him so?
2. “Please at LYON, I made those statements LOOKING STRAIGHT AT YOUR FACE WHILE PREACHING THAT DAY IN YOUR PRESENCE.” Outlandishly, if you were standing several meters away and looking in my direction where I was sitting with other ministers, and with everyone looking at you, who were you actually speaking to? Me? Did you call my name to draw my attention when you made those statements so that the congregation would know? Otherwise should not you have come right up close to me, about one or two meters, and look me in the eyes as you utter those statements? If you did accuse me in my face that day at Lyon, do you think that I will just let your false accusation pass?
False accusation is not a small matter. It is a lie; it is an evil and sinful thing in the eyes of the Lord God. To accuse me of being 1) “the corrector of every preacher”, and 2) that I control and supervise over your ministry, you have to prove it; prove that I am the “corrector of every preacher” and that I control and supervise over your ministry. Prove it, and do not beat around the bush; be specific about what I did to “every preacher” that you know, and that I control and supervise over your ministry.
In the ‘70s, the first BIG ETM church here spread lies and falsehood about me and my ministry. Because of the pastor’s sowing of discord, there were divisions and hate. Later his brother-in-law went up to a city in Malaysia and destroyed a small assembly that I started. He took away all of Jackson’s Contender papers and my books from the assembly and destroyed them. Then in 1986 your letter to Jackson and me caused him to turn against me. Some years later, an American preacher, Ted Posedly, went to Bangalore, India, after he had preached in my fellowship, only to undermine a young Indian pastor against me. There are other ministers; some are mentioned in my books. Amos Omoboriowo follows Jackson’s footsteps, and now you want to do the same. What is wrong with all such preachers today? Has the spirit of the message of Brother Branham caused them to behave – arrogantly – dishing out lies and sowing discord? Have they no shame; no fear of the Lord? Many good preachers know that this is going on, but choose to remain silent so as to be in the good book of one another. (Perhaps they think not to judge else they be judged?) Do they not know that to remain silent they are accessories to the sin?
As a minister of God, you need to give an answer to the following questions concerning your Faith in your accusation:
1) Did I correct “every preacher” on their teachings and doctrines, or on their lies, falsehood, deception, manipulation, etc, that cause confusion, division and strife and war?
2) Is it wrong for me to correct the lies, falsehood, deception, manipulation, etc, created by preachers that cause division and strife and war in the Body of Christ?
3) Since when did I control you and your ministry, and when have I been correcting you or supervising you?
4) Regarding Apostle Peter’s behavioral manipulation of Jewish converts to behave like him, such that young Barnabas was swept along with them:
a) Was Paul wrong to correct him?
b) Would you say that Paul was controlling Peter? Or, would you say that Paul was concerned about his converts in Galatia because certain men had crept in privately among the believers and sowed discord, and he had to expose all forms of evil work?You are a preacher; I believe you know the answers. Any preacher can lie about other preachers, but when it comes to me and the others with me in the Truth and the Ministry of the Lord, I won’t stand for it. There have been too many evil works going around among churches by influential preachers who are trucebreakers, false accusers, heady, highminded, liars, manipulators, sowers of discord, etc. How do you expect unity of Faith when INSINCERITY rules the lives of such preachers? The angelic words to Bro Branham “If you will be sincere…” are not taken seriously by many preachers.
I can fellowship with anyone and everyone around the Word. We may agree or disagree over certain minor points of doctrines, and we should have the courtesy to respect one another. However, if one were to twist words and lie, and sow discord and cause divisions among the believers; this is a different issue. “He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight” (Psa 101:7).
3. “Please the request for the RELIGO has not yet been received.” Well, then why did you not reply to my emails – three times, over a period of nine months? Don’t you think that is rude?
I wait to hear from you.
Sincerely,
RGan
22 February, 2020
WhatsApp Text
John Ben Tay
Is MATHEW 5 :11 to 12 not in your BIBLE? If YOU SEE WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE. IF ANY ONE HAS CHRIST IN HIM, HIS LIFE WOULD PRODUCE THE LIFE OF CHRIST.
…….
Well, I see now the kind of preacher/pastor of Bible Believers Fellowship of Tema, Ghana, that you are – a man who called himself a servant of God who goes about persecuting God’s people in the Name of God. I see now that you are fulfilling Christ’s words as a sinner man by applying Christ’s words in Matthew 5:11-12 in your response. Yes, I am blessed when men persecute me; you can continue in your persecution and sin against me as you so wished; I don’t hate you.
How true the Word of our God that many, such as you, would be offended by Truth when their lies and false accusations are found out; they would despitefully use and persecute those they dislike whatever the reasons. This is what God said, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth [Grk: miseo (hatred); to detest (especially to persecute)] his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1Jh 4:20). “But he that hateth (persecute) his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” (1Jh 2:11).
“If YOU SEE WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE. IF ANY ONE HAS CHRIST IN HIM, HIS LIFE WOULD PRODUCE THE LIFE OF CHRIST.” Surely, “YOU SEE WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE” and I have no idea what you saw that caused you to persecute me by lying and making false accusation against me. Did we have any correspondence since 1986, and even since we last met in 2012 and 2014? “YOU SEE WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE” and
what did you see all those years about me that you have to persecute me; to slander and accuse me of controlling and supervising you and your ministry? And yet you blatantly excuse yourself when I am trying to seek your reasons for your accusation and lie.
Oh surely, “IF ANY ONE HAS CHRIST IN HIM, HIS LIFE WOULD PRODUCE THE LIFE OF CHRIST”; you said it well, well, but did you see that LIFE OF CHRIST in you when you falsely accused me, deceiving the believers? What wrong have I done you? “IF ANY ONE HAS CHRIST IN HIM, HIS LIFE WOULD PRODUCE THE LIFE OF CHRIST”, then why are you still excusing yourself? Mat 5:23-24.
I will rest this case, and let the believers discern. I will not waste time with an insincere brother (if he be a brother). May the Lord help everyone to know the hour we live in, to be discerning and know them who labour among us. Amen.
* * * * * * *
A Norwegian sister texted me her dream. The dream speaks for itself – the spirit of lies that exist in preachers and churches.
Dated: 27 April, 2020
I saw a woman I knew entering a stage and she had a microphone talking to an audience. I didn’t see the audience. The focus was on her. First I only saw her from head to waist. She said “Bro Gan is exercising control over the church”
Then I saw her in full figure and she was clothed in hot pants covered by a long jacket.
That’s the dream!
* * * * * * *
A Word To The Wise
Jas 3:17: But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. [ESV]
Saints, the hour that we are living in has but just a few grains of sand left in God's prophetic hourglass. Most of us are well acquainted with the prophecies in Matthew 24. However, one vital point has been overlooked by most believers, especially the preachers. It is this verse:
Mat.24:12: And
because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."
Iniquity" is not just a sin. Iniquity is in-equity; it refers to something that is unequal, unfair, or unjust. Sin deals with the action, or lack of action, that is wrong but iniquity deals more with the character, or nature, of the act. For an example read Genesis 12 and 20, and look at the lie that Abraham told his wife, Sarah, to commit. It is a transgression that is worse than sin; it is lawlessness. In its narrower meaning, INIQUITY consists of the violation of the law of right (or duty) between man and man; wrongful or harmful actions towards another; grossly immoral acts with others. To practice iniquity is to be unjust and unequal in our dealings with someone.God hates iniquity above all sin committed. He does not endure iniquity –
“…I cannot away with; it is iniquity…” (Isa.1:13).2Ch.19:7:
There is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
Deu.32:4: He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.For an exposition on the subject of INIQUITY: read THE SIN OF ADAM.
Yes, we know that Satan, that old Serpent, knows he has but a short time left; therefore he is all out to deceive the whole world with his lying tongue, hissing and whispering enchanting words into the ears of powerful influential men in every field of occupation – from the politicians to the financiers, to the militiamen, to the clergymen. The one nation that the world knows to have projected itself as a Christian nation is America, the Second Beast of the Book of Revelation. The Second Beast is no longer as gentle and benevolent with its two lamb-like horns; it once was when the early Protestants from the Papal-controlled land of Europe first came and settled in the great continent some 400 years ago and emerged a nation in 1776. Now it has a mouth that speaks like a dragon, that old Serpent who deceived Eve and brought sin into the world. Under the Republican and Democratic parties, the Church and State have been blended as one which speaks with authority but full of deception! The Bible calls it the False Prophet for its mouth is filled with an unclean spirit, the spirit of false prophecies (Rev.16:13; 19:20; 20:10). [During my first few years (in the early 1980s) of visiting the churches in America, my eyes were opened to see how the
lying spirit operates in American politics, and had moved into the churches; not just the organized churches but also those that followed the message of William Branham. It has even spread around the world infiltrating societies and influencing both civil and religious people. It is a sickening spirit. When God’s people, especially the ministers, entertain it, they are then given an unclean mouth like that of the old Serpent, and they will hiss enchanting deceptive words into the ears and hearts of their hearers.]All deceptions carried out upon, or lies uttered about, a person or a people are iniquities in the eyes of God. It seems that many Christians and preachers have become callous about what comes out of their mouth; they slander, and they lie. It seems that they are tuned to Satan’s wavelength and thus lost their spiritual sense. Do they not know that such iniquitous utterances are lawlessness to God's Word? (Like this Ghanaian pastor, John Ben Tay; does he not know that his boasting and rejoicing is evil; and that his knowing to do good and not doing it is sin? Or, has he not read James 4:16-17?)
Saints, if you desire the favor and the blessing of the Lord, then consider the words of King David, a man after God’s own heart, who rebuked the boastful mighty man of his mischief:
Psa 52:1: Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
2:
3: Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.
4: Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.
5: God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.And, of himself, he said:
Psa 119:26: I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me:
teach me thy statutes.
27: Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
28: My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
29: Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
30: I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
31: I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.
32: I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.Then also consider the words of his son, King Solomon:
Pro 10:18:
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
Pro 12:19: The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Pro 12:22: Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.Surely God will put them to shame (Psa.31:18). Iniquity is a deadly sin and King Solomon knew well, for
lies will create discord among believers. They are an abomination to the Lord God.Pro 6:16: These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
17: A
18: An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19: A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.It is one thing to lie to yourself, against yourself, such as “I am not fat” when you are really fat, or you lie to someone about something that does not involve another party. You can deceive yourself with your own lies, but when it comes to deceiving others with your lies against another, you have committed iniquities. When you committed such an act and your sins are found out, be sincere to amend your deeds less you become “an heathen and a publican”. Our Lord admonished:
Mat 18:15: Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
16: But if he
17: And if he shall neglect to hear them, 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.How long does it take for such a man to become “an heathen and a publican”? The example given is a sin not openly committed against a brother. Hence, if the trespasser refused to listen to the one who was trespassed upon, there is the need to take one or two believers to bear witness. If he again refused to listen then the church will be told. And usually by this time, most such trespassers would have hardened their heart towards repentance. A hardened heart is usually a result of pride, self-glorification. Be not like the Pharaoh of the Exodus.
Mat 7:21:
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.Preachers need to tell it simple and to tell it straight just as Apostle Paul did to Apostle Peter. Read Galatians 2:11-14. To many pastors, their pulpits have become a tower of Babel where their tongues outrun their brains to the extent that lies and misleading words are splurged upon their congregations creating discords, suspicions and even hatred. Yes, many have departed “from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron…” (1Tim.4:1-2).Some have tried to justify evil work by giving out a warning against those who expose it with a: “
Judge not lest ye be judged” (Mat.7:1). Such people promote a tolerance that often encourages acceptance of behaviors the Bible forbids. The truth is that they have no knowledge of what the Scripture teaches, for if they do they would have understood what judgment our Lord Jesus spoke of, and most importantly, why Apostle Paul had to publicly rebuke Peter the Apostle, and Alexander the Coppersmith (cf. 2Tim.4:14).What was the
motive of Paul in his rebuking Peter? Was Paul puffed up to prove that he was spiritually above Peter “the big fisherman”? Was he disrespectful to a man of God, an apostle, who was his senior? Or, should Paul be like the man of God, a prophet (recorded in 1 Kings 13) who chose to hearken to the old prophet of God and followed his leading? On the contrary, Paul was not berating Peter; he was saving Peter's life. Was Paul also seeking revenge on Alexander, and even Hymenaeus and Philetus, whose teachings were an iniquity, for it overthrew the faith of some believers (cf. 2Tim.4:14; 2:16-18)? I wonder how many Bible believers would be self-righteously upset at Paul if they were there to witness this event of his rebuking Peter, or to have read what he wrote in his two letters to Timothy about Alexander, Hymenaeus and Philetus. Certainly, be sure, that if you are such a one, you “judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (Joh.7:24).Anyone who loves God and His Word will not just love others of like precious Faith but also the unbelievers. And anyone who loves God and His Word will also live a life that is godly and pleasing to the Lord, without hypocrisy. However, such is not the case in this end time for the Truth of God has offended many, and will offend many more such that they will betray and hate one another. And the abounding iniquity, especially those manifested by the pillars of the churches, will chill the agape of many believers, even so said Prophet Isaiah: “
For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail” (Isa.32:6).In conclusion, if a man says he believes the Word of God and claims to have the baptism of the Holy Spirit, he should ask himself this question: “
What was the Holy Spirit given unto me for?”Certainly, the Holy Spirit is given to comfort, to teach and to guide a true believer that Christ might be glorified. (Read John 14:26; 16:13-15.) Anything contrary is not of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
