“And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”  1Corinthians 2: 4-5

The Holy Ghost spoke a sobering statement, “The church has exchanged the Gospel of righteousness in Christ Jesus for religious rhetoric.” So clear came the words of the Spirit to me and so deep was the conviction that I could hardly breathe while searching for the definition.

Rhetoric – The art or study of using language effectively and persuasively;  speech or discourse that pretends to significance but lacks true meaning.

This could be an abbreviated name of the church in the world today; the sign would be bigger than the building if we put in all the titles that were left out!

“The First New Universal Bapticostal Post Modern Charismatic Church of Reformed Rhetoric”  (tongue –in – cheek, but no chuckle here, I don’t think God is laughing)

Paul dealt with the same problem with the believers of his time. The church at Corinth had taken on this title only the names were different!

You may be questioning how this could be, for the church has only tried to answer the need of the society and culture of the people it embraces today; struggling to stay relevant letting go of doctrinal dogmas becoming more inclusive. The five fold ministry has survived and signs and wonders are supernaturally performed. What have we missed?

The next statement hit me harder than the first.  “Since the gospel being preached is one of rhetoric, then the response becomes rhetorical, having no practical application, or urgency to answer, no power to change and requires no true faith to endure. It results in unbelief or disobedience.”

This is no thesis and I am no theologian. It is only a partnership with the Holy Ghost and revealing of the Father’s heart through the teaching of the Word.  As a minister, a pastor, a prophet and a child of God I have cried for the lost and wept to see the miracles of the early church. Yes, I have been in services where the Glory of God fell in gold dust and was left to be vacuumed up the next day. I have prayed for the sick and seen them healed, cast out devils in His name and fed the poor. Thank God for it! But more and more my heart is grieved for the bondage and burdens of drug addiction, divorce, offense, arrogance, and perversion in the church.  Amid all the supernatural manifestations in the church today where is the power to deliver us from the afore-mentioned ailments? At our fingertips are all that technology and creativity have to offer, mega churches and prosperity surely there is nothing wrong we can’t fix.

What we need is a miracle!

Characteristics of a Rhetorical Gospel:

Division – Boastful – Fleshly – Jealousy – Strife – No Integrity or Trustworthyness – Arrogant – Despising of Fathers in the Faith – Judgmental of one another – Wise (in their own eyes)- Superior -  Ruling – Prosperous – Strong – Distinguished- Many teachers

“Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1Corthians 1: 10

It had been reported back to Paul that there were cliques in the church and the people were divided in their following of different teachers.  Thus Paul began his address and it would behoove the modern church to listen.

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, (rhetoric) that the cross of Christ should not be made void. For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

It was the preaching of the cross of Christ that brought the power of salvation to the Corinthians. It wasn’t through the wisdom of men but through the foolishness of God. He chose the weak things of the world to shame the things that are strong.

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, that just as it is written, Let him who boast, boast in the lord.” 1Corinthians 1:30-31

The miracle is salvation and it comes from the power of the preaching of the cross.

We cannot boast in what we have done of our selves or in the ministry of any man.

“And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” 1Corinthians 2: 1-2

Paul did not come for the recognition or to gain a fan club. He was not there to compete with any man or compare with any other orator; not even to judge another man’s work.

“ for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? For when one says, I am of Apollos, are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.” 1Corinthians 3: 3-5

Paul could not speak to them as to spiritual men but as to babes in Christ because of their carnality. Political ambitions filled the church and posturing for positions was the course of the day.  Paul knew the preaching of the gospel was a partnership and not a contest. He took no glory and considered himself and his fellow ministers servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  As stewards it was required to be found trustworthy. Paul was afraid even to examine himself by himself but to let Christ examine him. He refused to pass judgment on another ministry but to let the Lord do it.

This church considered themselves to “have arrived”. They could preach, teach, move in the gifts of the spirit, worship and witness all with great professionalism. Any evangelist that came through town was subject to their scrutiny and every sermon was critiqued yet there was known sexual sin in the church and it was accepted!

The true love of God the Father was exchanged for a love that became tolerant not transforming! It became the preaching of a purported salvation without sanctification. Sound familiar?

Though the modern church may look great, she is weak and sick. Thinking she is on the right path, she has been subtly detoured by the ruts and bumps of offense she has encountered. Refusing to be challenged and humbled by them she has looked for the easy way, the way without discipline and suffering. Choosing her own teachers and acquiring her own followers and creating many paths.

“Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12: 12-14

Characteristics of the Gospel of the Cross of Jesus Christ:

Condemned to death – Spectacle – Fool for Christ sake – Weak by earthly standards – Without earthly honor – Suffering Hunger, Thirst, Poorly clothed – Homeless – Worker

Hallelujah! Now the Gospel can be preached! Pick up your cross and follow Jesus! We have traded the power of the preaching of the cross of Jesus for designer gold crosses! We wear them as jewelry but we cannot carry that rough, bloody, cross that He bore for us.

Paul told this to the Corinthians (with maybe a touch of sarcasm)

“For who regards you as superior? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and I would indeed that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you. For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men, We are fools for Christ sake, but you are prudent in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands;” ICorinthians 4: 7-12

He goes on to say that when we are reviled, we bless. When we are persecuted, we endure. When we are slandered, we try to conciliate. We have become as the scum of the world, the dregs, of all things.  Try getting people to apply to that job description!

Then with the heart of God He writes “I do not write this to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. I exhort you therefore, be imitators of me.” 1 Corinthians 4: 14-16

This is a fatherless generation. When a generation is left without fathers there are no foundations, no security, no guidance, no discipline, no inheritance, no examples, no blessing and no virtue or power. A true father is forever! We have plenty of instructors, teachers, and tutors. When we disagree with one, we can find another. There are plenty of people out there competing for our attention and our admiration wanting to be a living legend but no one willing to die for us. We have prosperity and riches but no lasting posterity or blessing of inheritance.

We have climbed the slippery slope of a grace that is like a soft pillow placed to catch us when we fall, so we don’t hurt ourselves. No one is willing to walk with us the road to death.  God’s grace is not a pillow, but a part and portion and equal to His strength, justice and power. He has won the victory over death for us!

Finally, a father will lead us and guide us through all things and produce through us fruit that keeps producing. That’s power!

“For the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power.” 1Corinthians 4:20

The church that preaches this gospel is the church that will walk in miracle working power in these last days!

Pastor Tura

Whoa, better rethink the last conversation I just had! Not a bad idea, but Paul was using a Greek word that went beyond our modern usage of this word.

Politeuma  1) the administration of civil affairs or of a commonwealth 2) the constitution of a commonwealth, form of government and the laws by which it is administered 3) a state, commonwealth a) the commonwealth of citizens

Simply put, it is our citizenship. Being a citizen of a country means we have rights and responsibilities. The legally enforceable duties of citizenship vary depending on one’s country, and may include such items as

• paying taxes
• serving on a jury
• serving in the country’s armed forces when called upon
• obeying the criminal laws enacted by one’s government, even while abroad

We are, in essence, a reflection of the nation we are raised in; it’s cultural, social, and political beliefs. So, do the conversations I am a part of during the course of my day represent the place of my citizenship? Where did you say you were from?

Philippians 1:20 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Politeamai 1) to be a citizen 2) to administer civil affairs, manage the state 3) to make or create a citizen a) to be a citizen b) to behave as a citizen 1) to avail one’s self of or recognize the laws 2) to conduct one’s self as pledged to some law of life

Let’s have fun and expound on this verse!

“Only let your citizenship, the administration of civil affairs and the management of the state, the creation of new citizens, your behavior as a citizen, the way you recognize and reflect your rights, privileges and responsibilities in your conduct as though you have pledged your life to uphold them; be as is suitable or worthy of the good news of God’s kingdom, His  gift of grace in the fullness of salvation through Jesus : that whether I (Paul) come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear in all that concerns and touches your lives, that you persist and stand firm in one spirit, with one mind working together as a team for the prize, for the faith of the gospel.”

Did I lose you? How about this – “Where are ya’ll from? You must be from the same country because you all talk alike. Are ya’ll together?”  – Did you get it that time? What does the world see when they see us? We are a convoy of heavenly envoys! Better yet, we’re top ranking ambassadors with a ministry of reconciliation working together with Christ.

A preposition, in English grammar, is a word that is relational to the substantive (name or noun), or it is a word that shows the position and/or relationship from one word to another. In other words it is “pre-positioned” meaning it is placed before another word. God is a “pre-positioned” God! He is a God of relationship! He positions himself between us and whatever object we are facing. He literally goes before us in every situation. He brings clarity and right relationship to us and the things we go through.

The prophet Habakkuk cried out to God, “Why Lord?” “How can you let the enemy do this to us?” “How can you procure perverseness to execute justice and the crooked to correct?” “Surely a holy God can’t condone this against His righteous people.”

God had chosen the Chaldeans (demon hordes, as one theologian put it) a fierce, ruthless, wicked army to discipline Judah. Habakkuk was distraught even though God assured him these treacherous ones would be judged in turn when He was finished with them.

“Then they will sweep through like the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty, they whose strength is their god.” Habakkuk 1:11

Faced with uncertainty and fear the prophet made a decision.Habakkuk decided to stick to his post! He wasn’t running till he heard from God.

Is there a place in your life where the enemy is threatening? Where hopelessness and fear are facing you? A place where no matter what you’ve done right it seems all is at loss? You may be questioning God like the prophet. Our country, our churches and even our individual lives are going through upheaval, the Master Gardener is pruning his precious plants! My, what a mess it looks like now!

Welcome to “the appointed time”! You have the great anticipation of devastation to look forward to! Don’t run yet, wait for the vision!

What do we do when it seems there is nothing but death to look forward to? God went on to say “Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.”Habakkuk 2:4

This is where our “Prepositional God” steps in between us and the judgment that is needed in our lives. He takes up a position before us and trouble.

The apostle Paul says in Romans 1:17 “For in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

From faith to faith. We are in transition. We are moving toward transformation. We are going from that faith of initial salvation to the finished product. It’s one thing to have faith in times of peace and plenty but another to have faith in times of trouble and tribulation. This is the relationship we must have in Him. We must let Him have residence here in this place so the “sentence” of our life has right structure. We must “embrace”, as the name Habakkuk means, the working of God knowing there is justice and deliverance in the end.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:1-5

The prophet was looking forward to the same glory. “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14

But he knew he would have to go through that dry season when the “clod-breakers” (Chaldeans) would be kicking up the dirt in Judah’s life. How strange that God could use the working of the enemy to break up the hard ground and make it a fallow field.
This was his desire “that I might rest in the day of trouble” (King James). This is the day and the hour where we need that rest and peace. There are things coming that have been appointed from the beginning, they will come!

“I heard and my inward parts trembled, at the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, and in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, for the people to arise who will invade us.” Habakkuk 3:16

Habakkuk sang……
“Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will exult in the LORD,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.”

Is there a place of devastation in your life; a place that seemed left unfruitful and empty; Broken relationships, failure in ministry, loss of a dream? Worship!
Find the high place of worship and praise. In that place that failed to produce what you thought it should build a fortress of humble worship and praise before the Lord. Tear down the idols of self righteousness and shame of failure, for God has ordained that you have authority in that place!

“The Lord GOD is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet,And makes me walk on my high places.”

Does this message feel like it’s taking you down a few paths? It is! And here is the last one.

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen” Romans 11:33-36
Pastor Tura

“Hey, what does that have to do with spiritual me?” you might ask. This may not be the “mid-life crisis” the carnal world experiences but something is happening and it isn’t going away! Is “cold-love” creeping up on you? Despair and weariness tag teaming you? Are you feeling overwhelmed and headed for numbsville? I bet you think you’re the only one suffering. Not so! Listen to this.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8-9

You are not alone! You are not alone in your suffering and neither are you alone in your resisting. We are each other’s “designated drivers”. We are to be alert and sober. To stand watch against this enemy we have. Are you resisting having a “fling”? I say, let go and have one! Here’s how….

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

That word cast comes from a Greek word that gives us the picture of flinging something, giving it a quick toss. Come on have a fling; throw all that anxiety and care onto Him. Jesus cares for us!

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11

Pastor Tura