Download... May 22, 2011. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Kale Neely.
Bro Kale Neely first read this poem to set the “tone” of his message
THE FEEL-GOOD PARADE
Hear ye now people,..we’ve come to your aid,. hasten and join us, the feel good parade
We’re happy go lucky, & seldom feel shame ,come as you are, and leave much the same
You don’t need those people who tell you more truth,
They’re a pain in the side, an ache in the tooth,
They tell you, that you must become a new creature
Then yield to the “watch” of the spirit led preacher
With little regard for convenience or ease,
They’re pushing God’s will, not do as you please
We’re pressing too, towards the “warm and the fuzzy”
We’re taller, waffly, busy, and buzzy
”Our” holiness is of the kind, that’s imputed,
While the shame of our sins, is by good works diluted
You can be your own pastor, or follow a man,
The carnal man leading, as best as it can
We feel that ahead, “out of sight” is Lord lovingly leading us, to our reward
What’s this in “the end” ...a sound of a furnace?
We always avoided the things that might burn us!
Ah, there sounds our lord ahead, in command.
But whence has he horns, and a fork in his hands?
Hear ye now people, we’ve come to your aid
We were formally known as “the feel good parade”
We thought to the end with our numbers increasing
That heaven was sure,.. and good feelings unceasing
With Lazarus and saints, we had hoped to abide
But instead we’re in flames, with the rich man besides!
With the rich man we warn, don’t come to this place!
Don’t feel good ,but be good,.. by His power and His grace!
From time to time you are going to “hear” from these “voices,” indeed, in fact, “many” are “saying” the same things as the rich man. We want instead to take the admonition of this rich man, spoken of here which comes from the story Christ relayed. How he wanted to warn people, ”Don’t come here! Don’t do what I did.. of doing what felt good in this life. Instead do what God wants, Really be good, by God’s power! We desire this in God,..do we not? Yet we find in all the world around us, The Hills of Independence. Today people are independent,...aren’t they?
We want to speak today, about “The hills of independence.” We find amongst
all these “hills of religion of man’s ideas, that Mt. Zion is exalted above them all. Amongst the many hills of man’s devices, is the substance of the hills of independence in desiring liberties of their own way.
The last few services we have expounded on the liberties found in serving God. We are not under the “school master”, which is a bunch of “thou shall, and thou shall not. We’re free to do God’s will from the heart and not made and forced. Yet we still need to teach a balanced message which is the structure in God’s church.
TEXT: HOSEA 9:17 My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations. Do you know some that are like that? Independent! They wanted their own way, and where are they at now? They are wandering,..scattered. No moral “compass” anymore,..just drifting along on life’s sea. Are they free? Oh no! They are in bondage without the benefit of God’s appointed structure.
Jeremiah 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. We all may have the spirit of God, but we all also still need the admonition of God’s structure and body. That is God’s design. Those that have been sometimes isolated from God’s body,.. God has seen them through, in this "exception" which is not of His “pattern.”
Proverbs 16:2,25 2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. You start to talk to people “out in this world” and they can justify someway, and somehow, everything that they do, but it is God who will judge all things in the end. 25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. This is where all false religion is going. We want to follow the way that is right to God.
Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. God sees all and there is no hope in any other way. He is the One true way (as says the words of a song.) Are you following that way this morning? If you aren’t, ..you can be! This morning! “Today if you hear his voice,..harden not your heart." Hebrews 4:7c.. You don’t have a promise of tomorrow,..so hearken today. We can be at work for God, instead of the devil. God won’t criticize that which is of His own works.
Jeremiah 7:23-26 23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. 24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined
their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. 25 Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: 26 Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers. They “did” of their own counsel, and although God’s prophets were sent many times, did not listen. We may “think,” which is all, that is of your own ways and thoughts, is “acceptable.” Don’t be gullible,..don’t believe every thought that comes. God tells us not to believe every spirit. I John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. The downfall of so many people is that they overwhelmingly despise government. They are seditious, traitors, ...which is not part of God’s church. We are to be submissive,..easily entreatable. God says you need a pastor,..although many don’t think they do. Ephesians 4:11,12 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
We obviously hope that as a babe, you will grow more and more,.. needing to lean on a pastor less and less. That is as it should be, and spiritually normal. It is good when those spiritual babies become more mature until they are also able to even encourage the pastor. That is wonderful! It is a reason for rejoicing,.. and glorious. Mission accomplished! For the church’s mission is all about projecting the image of Christ to the lost world, and not it’s earthly pastors and leaders. We are all designed to be a part of a local body,..it is His set “pattern.” Those that may be called to the missionary fields, are also designed to fit into that part of the body. None of it is ever meant by God for the drifting of your own course all alone, seemingly aimless, on a personal mission. Any and all must never be independent, but always part of the body. Dependent as it were,.. in that sense of God’s design. Always answerable and accountable to one another of Christ body.
Bro Neely told of having heard of “some sad things” over the years. The saddest had to do with some “leadership.” They had stood at the pulpit and told their listeners, “If we’re wrong,..don’t you try to straighten us out,.. those sitting in the mere pews.” (This was of their own words.) Those that sit in the pews, are the body of Christ,..I’m answerable to them!” But in their minds those “leaders” independent attitude was, "you can’t tell me anything, if I need straightening out God or other of the ministry only,.. are allowed to instruct.” That mentality is a dangerous lack of accountability. All the parts of the body possess a measure of discernment, for they hear the shepherd’s voice and they follow. It would not be hard to imagine that if you could see a design of the enemy, you would be aware that he would like to consolidate discernment, to just a small few,..because a few is easier to conquer than a whole bunch. Then when having easily conquered the small few, you have also taken the whole bunch, of the different parts of the body.
But, we don’t have to be ignorant of the devil’s devices. We want every member to be dependently attached to the head. This is my burden and Bro Goble’s burden, that every member be solidly “wed” to the bridegroom. There is great spiritual security in that when the whole world is falling around you, ..that you still continue forward. We need people that are dependable and still keep going. We look to filling the houses of worship not with just numbers,.. but with souls saved, sanctified, and determined to be submissive to all God’s plan, and not independent. We want to not be walking in our “own counsel” but determined to follow all God’s plan, ..and not becoming “wishy washy” when the way gets narrow and hard. Being determined to hold to the old paths, because of the promised final rewards in this life, ..and in the next.
I Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. God’s design is that we be brought in by the preaching and experience of the tested and tried,.. in example. Learn from others mistakes,.God has a “watchman on the wall” for our instruction. It is spiritually fatal to entertain all the “ideas” that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. What do we do with “those ideas?” Take the armor, the weapons of our spiritual warfare, and cast them down! Where do we get this armor? From The Word both in our own studies, and over the pulpit. We do well to listen to those who have experience and have already went through some very hard places. It is God’s design that we learn from the experiences of those before us. This is why God has the “watchman on the wall” to offer. It is a wonderful experience that what we were blessed with in our devotions, is then echoed also over the pulpit. On the other hand a very persuasive person “close” to you (i.e. family, friends) might “lead” you on “another” way. We must not believe every voice, but only that of the True voice of God (backed by the word and the spirit). Isaiah 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, this is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. When the example of the leadership, the spirit, and the word agree,..we see no reason to be suspicious. We then need to just follow like submissive sheep of the fold. God has designed "the foolishness of preaching".. to save those that believe.
I Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. This is how important it is to God’s design and structure, to heed the preaching of the word. We are instructed with this qualification, as the leadership lives the message out. Consider those voices, whether the ministry, family,..any that may be “whispering” in your ear. Are they holy? Are they living right,.. do they have the victory? Would you want to be found “like” them at the judgment bar? It is spiritually vital to consider all these things, in making choices for our souls. We all have a part to “play” in this, as God is not going to save, and keep us,.. contrary to our will and actions. It’s a partnership that God invites us into. When Jesus spoke of His yoke,..we are in the yoke with Him. We’re not in the cart behind the yoke,..but in it with Him.
Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. What is the old way? It is a Holy way, but.. there is more; Jeremiah 6:17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. We need to be subject to God’s watchman, that blow God’s trumpet. Don’t refuse him again that speaketh from heaven,..Hebrews 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Isn’t it wise when the minister of the Lord says,”thus saith the Lord”, and the word and the spirit also says yes? That’s when it is right, no matters even if it hurts,.. it is still right. When God’s word pierces between the joints and marrow;.. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. That is when it is going to truly hurt, ..but be what we need. It is not always going to be pleasant, but sometimes grievous. Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. The yielded product will continue to increase in getting better,.. than in it’s prior state. It will take us seeking and following in the “old paths.”
Jeremiah 6:18,19 18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. 19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. People will reap the results of their chosen thoughts that are away from God’s word and structure. It’s not a happy ending, as they become more and more in bondage to their flesh. II Peter 2:18,19 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. They promise liberty in great swelling words,..away from the liberty of holiness. Some people would say with their independent ‘mindset’, “You don’t need a more modest standard dress and “stuff.” If you just come “my way”,..but then where do you find yourself? More and more in bondage to the flesh. In another example,.. there have been many “given” to a call of celibacy in their faith, as in a so called “third work of grace,” then, in the midst of their leadership “position,” ..were lead to the bondage of adultery. Do you have a faithful, and godly pastor? Stick with it and your fellowship with a godly “body,” that holds up and stands by the truth, willing to be corrected.
Isaiah 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: It is spiritually fatal to listen to counsel that leads away from the holiness of God. An appointed pastor is an ambassador, and is needful for us to submit to. If you by your independence then get God mad at you,.. it is not just a man. Without true holiness in leadership, you can fall into the popular trap of joining the church of your choice, which is tantamount to believing every spirit (I John 4:1 again). God only has established His called out Church of God, in truth. If we want to make it to heaven we must "sit together in heavenly places here on earth.” Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: A good example of one in old biblical times that spoke against the appointed leadership was Miriam and Aaron. Their example of listening to the “voice” of independence instead of listening to Moses (which was the meekest man on earth,..Numbers 12:3),.. was rewarded with the account of Miriam being struck with leprosy. Leprosy represents sin here, in the Old Testament. What did it take for her deliverance? It took calling on God mightily to be cleansed. She was shut out of the camp for seven days, which was for a time,.. for her to be fully repentant. It is serious to lift up your heel or raise up against God’s government. Regardless of the “little voices” that might speak to your heart otherwise. We need to be very careful! Bro Neely spoke of an incident of a preacher in another part of the states, that when first was preaching, it was evident the spirit of God was behind him. Later it was evident when hearing him, that the spirit of God was gone from him. It was fortunate that the congregation there “identified” that, ..and took a successful stand against him. Be careful,..this is a good warning not to sympathize with “another voice of reason”, thereby causing much spiritual harm to ourselves and others. If that “sympathy” is whispered around, you can raise up a sedition against the very God you serve! This has happened before, and can happen again, and we don’t want to be guilty of it. Everyone needs to be watchful spiritually.
Jeremiah 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? There are prophets out there that would (like in this verse), have their own way, bear their own rule, and their own gospel! They would lie to people, and certainly we should have an aversion to that. Those that would propagate independence from God’s way, ought to be very odious to us! God will always be faithful to warn us before this happens, and that “this is the way, walk ye in it.” Isaiah 30: 21b... This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. We don’t want to allow one to lead with a compromised way, be it legalistic, or liberal. Once you compromise the spirit of God’s word, there is going to be made an allowance for the flesh, which is ungodly.. regardless. Bondage to the flesh, comes from independence!
Acts 20:29,30 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Right amongst us this can happen. Anytime our way becomes more important than God’s true way, it is only fleshly and independent of God’s way, ...which will only lift up Christ! The Jehovah Witness's "way" have a lot to say about “their” truth. Truth is self defending. The truth of God “mows” them over! If you only allow them to use the pure gospel,..they cannot get around it. They disavow the truth of a hell. Their only hope is if they submit to the truth before it is too late for them. “Every knee shall bow,..” Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; Don’t you want,.. to only submit to God’s way of truth and life?
Jeremiah 23:1,21,22 1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. 21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. This is never the desire of God’s true prophets. Their desire is to be standing on “the sea of glass” ...Revelations 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.... holding up and strengthening His hands. Not dividing the flock. Selfish pastors divide the flock! Even only one of independence, will influence in a spiritually negative way, and often take any “that lend an ear,” away from the true body of Christ. Are we going to do God’s will, ...and submit to His plan?
Jeremiah 23:25-32 25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. 26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; 27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. 28 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. 29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? 30 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. 31 Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. 32 Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD. Some have persuaded in the past with the dreams of “the one cleansing.” We don’t want this! What is it that the truth does? It separates spiritually,.. the wheat from the chaff. It will hurt “some things” but only that which is necessary. Verse 29 This is what God’s word does for our soul, to rid us of fleshly hindrances. Verse 32 Great damage is done from the fleshly messages of false prophets. Great damage.. because it allows people to think they are right,.. when they are so spiritually wrong!
Galatians 4:16,17 16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. People are looking for acceptance to their own thoughts and ideas (independence.) We need to desire for those to be brought to the shame of their error, so they can be helped spiritually. Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Many others will be defiled if allowing the spiritually independent to trouble them with their root of bitterness. It must be spiritually “burned up” if it is not to affect more.. with spiritual contamination.
Hosea 13:9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help. Our help is found only in God.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. Want to be your own pastor? If so, you will perish for lack of knowledge!
Jeremiah 3:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, You cannot hope for Salvation, from any “old” hill of independence. Your ideas cannot save. It is only found on God’s path of righteousness. Jeremiah 3:14,15 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Any way but diligence in God’s true way and grace,.. will bring bitterness.
II Chronicles 20:20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. 20-20 “vision, that is what is spiritually found... in this scripture of wisdom!
Jeremiah 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. Thank God for this promise! It’s found, not in a geographical Mt.Zion, but in the remnant that has inherited spiritual Mt.Zion, ...and are not amongst The Hills of Independence!
