Posted on October 27, 2024 by Pastor David Cox

ch092 The False Prophet’s Spectacles

ch092 The False Prophet’s Spectacles is an examination of the unbiblical methods a false prophet uses to attract new people to his church.

The False Prophet’s Spectacles
By David R. Cox

[ch92] v1 ©2024 www.coxtracts.com
This tract can be freely reproduced for non-profit purposes

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 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.

Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

So, why would a saved person support such ministries?

These false prophets made many supernatural shows in the name of Jesus. One of the marks that Jesus gave us to discern the false prophet is that they prefer making shows to identify themselves as being truly of God. Jesus declared something that was a strong shock, “I never knew you.” We must meditate on this. There are ministers and churches where those in control, that is, those who preach and teach in such a “ministry” are not even saved. So, why does a saved person have anything to do with them?

What is the Declaration of the Gospel?

Ephesians 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

We must understand what the gospel is, and how we are to treat it in terms of what we say to others regarding salvation. There is a lot of importance in this. I mean, if you don’t understand what the gospel is, what salvation is and how you obtain it, you will never be able to enter it, nor will you treat it well.

A False Prophet does not explain the Gospel very well. A good pastor must explain salvation constantly and with different presentations. For the false prophet, the gospel is the repetition of magic words that if you repeat them, you will be saved. In areas of Catholic cultures, they must dip people in baptismal water (water baptism does not save anyone), but that is what the Catholic Church teaches. A preacher faithful to God will explain the gospel many times with clarity and care so that people understand salvation. Just saying or repeating a few words will not save anyone. Salvation comes when one hears the gospel and understands it, but the point of being saved is when the person believes in the gospel, his life changes and he is born again.

The World is Given over to Riches

The world is crazy in its desire for economic gain. The gospel is a spiritual orientation to remove the desire for material things. In other words, we begin with sin. We are in error, because we exalt riches to be our god. But our problems go beyond that. When a church or ministry attracts people through its economic giving of gifts, it is not right.

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden,

Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

God declares that human needs (and desires) should not dictate how you live your life. It is a deception of Satan that you always have economic gain.

Fasting is exactly a spiritual activity to prove to the person himself that his spirit can dominate his body. But people can’t seem to live without exalting economic gain above everything else. Jesus said several times that we will always have the poor with us (Mark 14:7; John 12:8) and in Deuteronomy 15:11 He commands us to “Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy.” We are to be generous to those in need. 1 John 3:17 But if anyone has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?

But there is a type of people who always have their hand outstretched, and they are not actually saved, and God’s work cannot be done with such types. But the false prophet uses people and finds it useful to give gifts to people who are greedy in order add them and better control them.

John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Salvation involves a spiritual change in the person’s being in which he leaves the importance of the earthly and the temporal in order to obtain the spiritual. We must live every moment of every day trying to please God. And this means working to sustain ourselves.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

So, our charity to these people must be limited lest we aid people in their sin, but it is totally a sin and the wrong way to live if one always seeks for “a handout.”

Jesus lamented that they would always follow whoever was giving handouts. These followers are not saved but are looking for the handout. They are children of Satan. Satan only has this world, that he has corrupted. He can only bribe people into his realm based on corrupted earthly things. The children of God have heaven and their future in it, blessings without number.

But a child of Satan habitually focuses on what he is going to enjoy now and in this life. Nothing else matters to him.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

The true Christian has changed their way of thinking. They esteem and value what is spiritual, and the rewards in heaven are more important than anything the earth has to offer.

Judas Iscariot followed Jesus also and he when to hell anyway

John 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

[literally “bare away” as in carry off the money]

What we must notice is that for some, money and what is economically convenient for them is more important than anything else, and so their god is wealth. In other words, one’s financial well-being controls the decisions of one’s life. Because of this detail, God commands us to give offerings. God commands every believer, every follower of Him, to give spiritual sacrifices of their possessions for His work. There is another important point. How much does a Christian sacrifice of his own life to show God that wealth is not his god?

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Likewise, sacrifice, prayer, and meditation must be done so that this sacrifice does not go to a false prophet. But the point we see today is when a ministry attracts people through this greedy desire among the people, how can anything good come out of it? We are part of the “ministry” of the false prophet by attending, supporting him, going for what he gives away, or directing others to him. It is worse when you give money to the falsehood he represents.

The False Prophet uses Avarice[1]

[1] Immoderate desire for wealth; cupidity. An excessive or inordinate desire of gain; greediness for wealth; covetousness; An inordinate desire for some supposed good.

2 Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

The matter here is not just that the false prophets are covetous, but they use the covetousness of people to deceive them and to entrap them in webs of wickedness.

2 Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

We have to understand the economic motive in ministries that give away free things in order to attract people. On the one hand, they give away things in order “build their ministry.” But to appear like a great spiritual success (because the economic attraction is what is actually happening here), they use this to raise funds from Christians that believe their lies of success. In other words, they use numbers to promote themselves.

There is no Real Repentance in Their Ministry

Jeremiah 8:4 Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return? 5 Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. 6 I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.

These false prophets do not preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), because it is not convenient for them. They want a great number of people (that will provide them with money, luxuries, fame, and control of their people), and whatever hard thing that should be preached or that might turn away some of their crowds is avoided. When the false prophets have control over many people, they reach their goals. They are embarrassed when people have spiritual problems, and they don’t deal with that kind of thing.

Ezekiel 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.

(To feed is to remedy their spiritual problems.) God used the prophet Ezekiel to get their attention and to instruct us as well. If a church comes to have thousands of members, how can it care for them individually?

Miracles and Healings

John 6:2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

But we observe and analyze what people are like, and what is it that pleases God? The world lives looking at the earthly and as if it is the most important thing here on earth now. In other words, God warns us many times that our sin brings eternal and earthly consequences, and death. Then, God warns us with an illness that our sins will cause us to die. We have limited time to fix our lives. But few are those who use this time for their eternal good. It is the judgment of God that will fall upon one at any moment, and it is certain that it will fall. The false prophet identifies himself with saying good words instead of rebuke when the judgment of God is about to come.

Jeremiah 23:17 They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

The false prophets do not preach strongly, but only want to appear as if they do. They do not preach towards moral change in their people so that they imitate the moral character of God. It would ruin their goals of success if they did.

Elijah and the Prophets of Baal Wasn’t it sensationalism what Elijah did?

In 1 Kings 18, Elijah went “toe to toe” with the prophets of Baal.

1 Kings 18:33… Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. 34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

There are some that would say that Elijah fought against the false prophets of Baal, and by this, they also put an axe against physically destroying the icons of false religions. But if we examine the Bible, Elijah did not destroy any idols. He prayed, and God did a miracle that they couldn’t do.

They caused Harm to the Gospel

2 Peter 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

Because the truly saved support the ministries of these false prophets, the world thinks that all Christians are like this, and it is not true.

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Posted on October 24, 2024 by Pastor David Cox

Ch35 Bad Pastor or Disobedient Sheep?

Ch35 Bad Pastor or Disobedient Sheep? sorts out differences between pastors and sheep, marking all must obey Scripture.

Bad Pastor or a Disobedient Sheep?
By David Cox
[Ch35] v1r ©2009 www.coxtracts.com
You may freely reproduce this tract

Without a doubt, the Bible warns us of the presence of false prophets and teachers who want to destroy our faith (Jude 1:4), and what they do is a type of spiritual slavery, religious control, and by means of systems, doctrines, and practices, they cause us to fall into sin. But when there is conflict in a church, it is very difficult to know when we ought to fight for our faith (Jude 1:3), and when it is something not so important that we should just submit to the leadership even though personally we would do things differently.
If the matter is doctrinal, we must go to the Bible to orientate ourselves and not disobey the Scripture. But frequently, the conflict is not doctrinal, but one of preferences and matters in which no biblical principle can be found in it (neither for nor against), if there is one, it is not clear where the Bible stands on the issue.

Contrast Between a Good and Bad Pastor

In John 10:1-18, God gives us the contrast between Jesus as the good shepherd and men as a bad shepherd. But God has appointed mature brothers to govern God’s church.

The Entry. John 10:1 speaks of how one comes into relationship with the sheep. There are two ways, those who enter through the door (chosen by God to be the shepherd), and those who enter through some other way. The only official organization of the flock of God is a local church. At this point, the official leader of a local church is the bishop (the position of authority), who is a true elder (and who meets the qualifications of a leader), and who shepherds (the action that makes an elder into the position of bishop). The only legitimate leaders are those who enter this way, by qualifying under the biblical requirements. If there is no examination of the individual, he is not legitimate. Many want to control the brethren, but do not meet the spiritual qualifications and requirements, and do not pay the price to enter correctly (1 Timothy 3, Titus 1). These are not to be accepted as leaders. Honor those who care for their spiritual life and dedicate themselves to ministry.

The Relationship. John 10:3-4 teaches us that the true shepherd has a good relationship with the sheep. The good shepherd lives with the sheep in their daily lives and has sympathy and a personal relationship (friendship, he calls them by name). The word “leads” is to lead them out of something, and this must be from sin to righteousness, which is the object of all preaching. The good shepherd places them (through preaching) in the will of God, especially as it is expressed in the Holy Scriptures, as the central point of their life, which dominates what they do, believe, say, and desire. 1 Cor 16:15-16 commands us to submit to people who have dedicated themselves to the service of the saints, helping and working. Relationships and dedication count in identifying the good shepherd.

The Leadership. John 10:4 speaks of the leadership and ministry of a good pastor, that he is exemplary.

1 Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

The good shepherd is not a cowboy, who pushes his charge from behind cruelly pushing and whipping them. The good shepherd is exemplary and goes out in front of them, demonstrating in his personal life how everyone should behave. We can simply ask, Is the shepherd’s conduct like the example of Christ? If the answer is yes, then he is probably a good shepherd.

If not, then we have a hypocrite (who goes to hell Matthew 24:51), someone who pretends to be the example of Christ, but really is not. Be very careful when the spiritual leader uses double standards, one for himself, and another for others. But we cannot blame the shepherd just for being harsh, because this is what he must do, (Titus 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 1 Timothy 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 2 Timothy 4:2) Paul reveals to us the point in 2 Corinthians 13:10, when he said he used severity “according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.” The severity that the good shepherd uses is to aid a believer to Christlikeness, and not to destroy the life of the Christian under his charge. Paul saw an authority given to him by God for this.

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Paul’s concept of a good pastor is that he is an example of Christ. As a minister charged with responsibility for other Christians, Paul lived the exemplary life of Jesus Christ. If your pastor is not like this, he should leave the ministry to someone who is. These things happen because the very same church does not examine the pastor as to his moral character BEFORE they ask him to be their pastor.

Marks of the bad shepherd. In Ezekiel 34 we see the marks of a bad shepherd. He feeds himself and not the flock (Ez 34:1), he takes personal advantage of his office (Ez 34:2-3), he does not seek the welfare of the flock (Ez 34:4), he does not give placement and direction in the lives of the sheep (Ez 34:5), he does not make it a priority to integrate every Christian into a local church (Ez 34:6), he does not attack the spiritual enemies of the sheep (Ez 34:8). Isaiah 56:10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. 11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

In Jeremiah we see more marks. They rebelled against God, giving a message that did not originate with God (Jer 2:8), they did not seek God’s message (Jer 6:3) but “became overbearing” (consumers). Finally, God’s threat is against the bad shepherd, “Who is that shepherd that can withstand Me?” (Jer. 49:19). The good shepherd is a minister who presents himself as the example of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

The Contrast between a Sheep and a Goat

The Bible teaches us that there are people within the church who pretend to be saved, but really are not (Matt. 13:24-29). Many times, false doctrine and conflicts come from these “members” who hinder the flock of God. Their character is very different, because they are not subject to the authority of God. The authority of the Scriptures is not the resolution of everything (the rule) in their lives. They are a law unto themselves. What seems best to them is always what is right. Their ways and methods of working are what they like, such as joking, blasphemy, sedition, and lying. They do not care about the impact and consequence on the novice and weaker brethren (Luke 17:1-2). Whoever causes others to fall is accursed before God.

Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

Galatians 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

In church conflicts, ask yourself who is behaving like Christ? Many times, neither side is behaving like Christ. But note that no matter what, God does not bless any warrior if he does not fight legitimately, that is, according to God’s commandments, form, and norms (2 Timothy 2:5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully). If you do not behave as worthy of Christ, with courtesy and respect towards others, then you walk in sin.

Normally these false Christians do not respect the divine authority that God has given to the pastor.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

There are churches with false prophets as pastors, but the rebellious members do not discern this. The bad members want to impose their will on the church, as if they were the pastor of the church. A good pastor does not allow them to do this, so they plot sedition and rebellion among the membership. If the doctrines are biblical, and the leaders are examples of Christ, then one should submit to these leaders even if one does not agree with every little thing they do. They will have to give an account to God for what they do right or wrong, and for their stewardship.

Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

The pastor is the one whom God has left in charge of the local church, to represent Christ in this group. The group should be subject to his judgment and discernment, and the pastor should lead by example, not by prodding (aggression). But having said this, we understand that pastors also make mistakes, and we must bear with them and forgive them. When we see elements constantly in the pastor of bad desires, purposes, goals, doctrines, and practices that disqualify him from ministry, the whole church should expel the pastor or make him withdraw from the ministry even if they are in the minority. The dismissal of a pastor is not something in which the pastor does not agree in doctrine or in his personal life, nor because he disagrees with somebody.

The Main Problem

The main problem in most church conflicts is that everyone involved are not seeking God’s will, but rather they presume that their own ideas are God’s will without having very clear verses to defend their position. Then the complicating factor is that few people in these conflicts are mature. Instead of giving preference to others and being humble, everyone is trying to dominate the faith of others.

Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

When peace is not a goal in a person’s life, conflicts are never resolved, but rather it is their vice, seeking more and more contention. People who are spiritual are not contentious. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men… patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Discerning the Will of God

Satan wants to destroy the work of God, and the conflict, dissension, contention, and arguments without spiritual fruit are how Satan works for this destruction. We do not want to be part of the problem, but part of the solution.

James 5:9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

Psalms 133:1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

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Posted on October 20, 2024 by Pastor David Cox

Ch012 The Worship of God: The Principle Obligation of the Believer

Ch012 The Worship of God: The Principle Obligation of the Believer examines the Bible’s teaching on what is worship.

The Worship of God
The Principal Obligation for the Believer
By David Cox

[ch012] v3.2 ©2023 www.coxtracts.com
You may freely reproduce this for non-profit purposes

Let us think of God as the worthiest Being who deserves a spiritual response from our souls (which should be surrender, dedication and obedience). He is first and foremost our Creator. Salvation is in essence, trust (or faith) in the person of God. His promises of salvation are real, and He is always ready to save us. If we believe this “we are calling upon God in our lives”. And this is what saves us.

Salvation is not a prayer of magic words, which, being vain or feigned (lies), neither affects nor changes our lives. It is putting great trust in God, knowing His character and imitating Him (Ephesians 5:1).

To worship Him is to recognize His character, to trust and exalt Him to be our only pattern. To worship Him is to express faith through words and actions (meditations on His divine character). And it is in Sunday worship given to us by God that we best focus our worship of God.

What is Worship?

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

One’s attitude toward God is of supreme importance. God punishes pride, and rewards humiliation before Him. Access to God is by recognizing His Sovereignty. The second and third commandments speak of wrong forms and objects of worship, the fourth commandment speaks of the day of worship (dedicated to the Lord). Worship is simply the exaltation of God by the person who honors Him. Worship is a spiritual activity, it is an imitation of the morality (moral character) of God, it springs from the soul, it is the response to the Creator with esteem, actions and words that exalt Him in all that He deserves. William Ames explains that there are two forms of worship, formal (in worship) and informal, of which he says, “One cannot give honor to God in any other way but by expressing faith, hope, and love.” That is, true worship is seen in one’s activity and attitude.

Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

At this point, says William Ames, “God requires only one thing: worship of Him. This has to do with a fearful attitude (reverence), walking in His ways, loving and serving Him. This is the heart of worship.”

Who do we Worship?

Matthew 4:9 And (Satan) saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

It is striking that Satan wanted Jesus to worship him, and God emphatically insisted that worship is only for God Himself. Firstly, “our Lord” is our Master, the one who rules our lives. Secondly, it is important that Satan wanted Jesus to worship him “prostrate”. That is; to be valid worship, it must be exactly as Satan commanded him.

Satan wanted worship as a sign and in a position of submission (prostrate and humbling himself). That is, worship must deal primarily with the object of worship (God alone, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit John 5:23), and then the form (the humiliation and exaltation of God over us and our will). Satan wants to rob God of His worship. Worship is to keep our eyes fixed, and to give Him attention and priority, offering Him what He requires, and it must be in the form God specifies. Satan intends to draw us away from the right object by corrupting the proper forms. Also, it is very clear that we must never worship anyone other than God Himself, the Creator.

Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

“Giving worship” is the word σεβάζομαι (sebazomai) which means to give reverence or adoration. It is forbidden to worship any creature, or thing, especially wealth. In Colossians 2:18 and Revelation 19:10 it is forbidden to worship angels who literally are “messengers” (which can be preachers or spirit beings appearing in vision with a message).

The Elements of Worship

Worship comes from the fact that we are creatures made by God for His glory. It is the primary obligation of every creature to worship God. This is the reason God created us. It is the response of every creature to God, their Creator. Worship implies that we should prostrate ourselves before the superior God (exalting Him).

The forms are not specific because the attitude is more important than the position of the body, but what the Scriptures command is that we kneel before God, bow our heads to the ground, and be still and maintain silent listening before Him. In general, let us show reverence, awe and humiliation in the presence of God. (Children whose parents do not accustom them to behave well in church will always have problems with worshiping God as adults. The teacher’s authority in school comes from God, and these children will also not be good students in school and will suffer in life).

How should we worship God?

Genesis 4:5-7 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.

When we examine Cain, we do not understand his sin in a very clear way. Cain’s sin was that he worshipped in a way that did not please God (the same thing that Nabad and Abihu did in Leviticus 10:1-11 by offering “strange fire”). Many commentators are of the opinion that Cain offered a bloodless offering, a requirement demanded by God, although this could well be, God does not explain it to us. His mistake was not to give importance to the details of his worship, when one has precise instruction from God, one must obey faithfully.

Deuteronomy 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

Numbers 15:39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:

We must study how it is that God wants us to worship Him, and fulfill it exactly. It was God’s constant concern that His people that they not forsake His commandments to follow the thoughts of their hearts. Worship begins with God, and continues with hearing, studying, understanding and applying the Word of God to our own lives.

Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Exodus 20:4-5 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,

God forbade worship of that which does not have God as its object, and especially not worshiping using images of any kind (of God himself, or of persons, of saints, or of animals, plants, stars, the sun, the moon, etc.). The method of worship is spiritual and not in symbols. The form or method of worship is very important.

John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The woman doubted the right place to worship (Jerusalem or Samaria). Jesus declined both centers of worship (which was of great contention between Jews and Samaritans) and focused on spiritual worship, through the truth of God spiritually, dwelling and living visibly within the life of each one.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

The most important part of worship is that we live God’s moral character (morality) in our daily lives. Thus, we will worship God in the way that pleases Him. Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.

The most essential parts of worship in services are: 1) To know and understand the spiritual truth that we need to follow by reading the Bible itself. 2) To insist on this in our way of worship (hymns, Scripture reading, testimonies, etc.). 3)encourage our brethren in faith and love, using spiritual examples, (testimonies and actions of grace) where God shows His character in us, through our experiences.

The “Lord’s Day”

Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work…

It is extremely important that one worships God. Salvation is not really within you if you do not worship God WITH YOUR OWN LIFE, with your expressions, your words, and your deeds. Furthermore, as a permanent habit of the child of God, there is a specific time and place to worship God, and this is in the church services (in the company of the brethren) every first day of the week.

The observance of the Sabbath (which is a rest from normal life) was of supreme importance in the Old Testament. Breaking the rules of reverence for God on that day was punishable by death.

1 John 1:5, 7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

John observed that there are some people who do not easily fellowship with the brethren. (1 John 2:19 “they went out from us, but they were not of us”) They abandon the church and the brethren. These people do not want to identify with the redeemed of God. John saw the purification of sins, or moral change (1 John 1:7; 3:3, 6) and the love between brethren (1 John 3:10) as the clearest demonstration of a child of God.

Conclusion

The worship of God is the result of having changed one’s life, leaving sin and living together with the brothers and sisters in the community of faith. This is emphasized in the formal worship services.

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Posted on March 7, 2024 by Pastor David Cox

ch94 How to Destroy a Church

ch94 How to Destroy a Church explains how the church functions, and gives us the criteria for judging if a person is a blessing or not, if they are like Christ.

How to Destroy a Church

By Pastor David Cox

[ch94] v1 ©2024 www.coxtracts.com
You may freely reproduce this for non-profit purposes

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (that rock is that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Jesus created the church for His purposes. This church represents the kingdom of God on earth. Through the church, God does His divine work, which is the salvation of the souls of men (those who respond to His gospel invitation). But the church is based on the gospel, and if you change salvation, the gospel, you have already destroyed the church. The essence of the church is saved people, who are saved and are growing in their faith and their sanctification, and who are committed to obeying God and fulfilling the task that God gives to the church. But it is certain that Satan tries to destroy God’s work as much as he can.

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Posted on February 3, 2024 by Pastor David Cox

ch20 Baptists: Why we call ourselves Baptists v.1.2

Baptists: Why we call ourselves “Baptists”? What does “Baptist” mean? An honest explanation of why we are Baptist.

By David Cox

Ch20 v1.2 ©2024 www.davidcox.com.mx/tracts
This tract can be freely reproduced for non-profit purposes.

Many religious groups proclaim “We are not a religion. We are not a denomination, and because of that we don’t use any name except ‘church’. Names are bad.” But it is as if a person goes to the doctor and the doctor gives a prescription, but he doesn’t want to write down the name of the medicine, and just writes “that medicine”. It is useless. We use labels and names to identify what is what. Each name has a meaning, and we use these labels to correctly identify things. This tract will explain why we use the name “Baptist”.

Whatever name we choose to call ourselves by, wicked people can attack us, and without a doubt, somebody will come out using that name without really having the significant life, conduct, and doctrine which should go with that name. The only thing that we can do is to make it very clear what are our beliefs and conduct (defining the label as we understand it) and defend ourselves.

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Posted on January 21, 2024 by Pastor David Cox

ch27 Tithe Is it biblical to tithe? v2

ch27 Tithe Is it biblical to tithe? v2 makes the biblical case for giving to God’s work. Topics: The Principle of Giving to God | What is the Tithe? | Why do we tithe? | Is Tithing for the NT?

Is it Biblical to Tithe? v2

Tithe: Is Giving a tithe a NT Obligation?
By David Cox
[ch27] v1 ©2008 www.coxtracts.com
This tract can be reproduced for non-profit purposes

There are people who attack the work of God from without, and there are those who attack the work of God from within. The two most critical points of God’s work which have been seriously attacked from within is the role of pastor in taking care of the church, and the economic sustaining of the church. If convince the ministers to work a secular job to support themselves (see 1Cor 9:14; Mat 10:10; Gal 6:5; 1Tim 5:17) then you will cause an economic poverty within the work of God, basically making it impossible for ministers to accomplish anything more than just keeping their doors open.

There are groups who wish to “free” or unlink the tithe from being a NT Christian’s obligation. If we accept their arguments for a moment, then this means that God doesn’t want his children to support the work of God? What is the biblical alternative? This makes no sense that good Christians don’t want to support the work of God. The rejection of the tithe for the NT Christian has to be a teaching of the devil.

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Posted on November 28, 2023 by Pastor David Cox

ch34 Brethren, we must not fight!

ch34 Brethren, we must not fight! explains why Christians should not be contentious, especially between brethren.

Brethren, we Must Not Fight!

By David Cox

But about brotherly love you don’t need me to write to you, because you yourselves have learned from God that you love one another; 1Thes. 4:9

The Bible speaks of a Christian as a person who has a different personality. This person who is saved is someone who seeks to impose brotherly love in his life, in that he loves his brethren. This is a change from the carnal life he was in before he was saved, “living in malice and envy, loathsome, and hating one another.” (Titus 3:3).

Because it is important?

1Jn. 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another; because love is from God. Everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God; because God is love.

Perhaps it is not very obvious why brethren should not fight, but God hates brethren when they are fighting. First, we have to understand that God in his essence is love. Aggression, friction, strife, and fighting are things that God opposes. They are from the Devil. When two brothers get into a fight, then they are lending themselves to the Devil’s purposes. It is not God. But much more than “God doesn’t like it,” God says his children have to learn, understand, and practice love.

1Jn. 2: 9 He that says he is in the light and hates his brother, is still in the darkness. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no stumbling. 11 But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

God proposes a union and friendship between His children, in which a brother helps and supports his brother in what he does in life. When two people are brothers and fight, then God says that they walk in darkness and that they stumble.

1Jn. 3:10 In this the children of God are manifested, and the children of the devil: everyone who does not do justice, and who does not love his brother, is not of God.

If a person does not love his brethren, then it is manifested that he is not a child of God.

1Jn. 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers and sisters. He who does not love his brother remains in death.

The mark that a person is truly saved is that they love their brother, they do not fight, and they tend to not enter into conflicts and in contentions with their brethren. The Christian understands that God commanded that we have brethren, to have a relationship with them. In demonstrating the love of one brother to another, reveals his faith in Christ. Resistance in fighting or seeking to contend with your brethren is something that draws attention to whether one is saved or that one is still unconverted.

1Jn. 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has permanent eternal life in him. 16 By this, we have known love, in which he laid down his life for us; we too must lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?

God puts love, being friendly, ignoring, hating, and murderous all on the same line. They are actually degrees of the same thing, your relationship with your neighbor is a reflection of your relationship with God. At one extreme is love, in which one dies for the other. At the other extreme is the murderer. Everything between the two is degrees from one extreme or the other. In addition, brethren share what they have in this life.

Mat. 5:43 You have heard that it was said: You shall love your neighbor, and you shall hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you: Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who abuse and persecute you;

When a person understands (1) the love of God,
(2) what the moral character of God is like, (3) that God is love, (4) that God is not aggressive, and contentious, then one understands God and our common salvation. It is very important to understand that everything is based on two points, as Jesus emphasized.

Mat. 22:37 Jesus said to him: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is similar: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Salvation and the whole Christian life is based on our relationship with God, and on how we demonstrate this spiritual relationship, especially on how we accept and imitate him (Eph. 5:1 “Be imitators of God as beloved children“) i.e. nature and moral character of God, and then how we manifest this change of moral character in us to be like God through how we relate to other people (our neighbor, especially our brethren).

Irritating one another

1Co. 13:5 Love is … not irritated.
Gal. 5:26 Let’s not become boastful, irritating each other, envying one another.

God commands us not to irritate each other. The idea here is to provoke, to call for conflict and contention. A Christian is a person who seeks peace, not conflict. As Christians, we sometimes have to face even our brethren when they disobey the will of God the Father, but in general, we must be people who love their neighbors and brethren, forgetting and covering up their offenses and not seeking conflict and contention with them.

Biting and wasting away

Gal. 5:15 But if you bite and eat one another, see that you also do not consume one another.

Between the brethren, when they start attacking and destroying each other then they end up killing each other. The idea is taken literally from one animal that attacks and turns against another to such an extent that it consumes the other.

The Relationship Between One Another

Jn. 13:34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Jn. 15:12 This is my commandment: that you love one another, as I have loved you.
Jn. 15:17 This I command you: Love one another.
Rom. 13: 8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

It is essential to see the importance that Jesus placed on his children having a loving relationship with each other. This relationship defines and reveals the moral character of God, and one announces God living within them by living in this way.

Upholding one another and putting up with one another

Col. 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. As Christ forgave you, so do you.

Simply put, if one is saved, he supports and endures his brethren. We seek peace, forgiving each other if we are children of God.

Forgiving one another

Eph. 4:32 But be kind to one another, merciful, forgiving one another, as God also forgave you in Christ.

If you seek and want to be forgiven by God, then He gives you the test of someone offending you so He can see if you really want forgiveness IN YOUR OWN LIFE. If you want to be forgiven by God, then you will also forgive others, bearing their offenses, not holding a grudge and envy against them. God sees the sincerity of your heart toward the salvation that God gives you through how you forgive other people who offend and annoy you.

Exhorting and teaching you

Col. 3:16 The word of Christ abundantly dwells in you, teaching and exhorting one another in all wisdom…

When we understand the Bible and the will of God, then we understand that it is our task as children of God to be those who proclaim the virtues of God (“that you proclaim the virtues of him who called you ” 1Pet 2:9). In this, we explain and live God’s word (God’s will in words and actions) for others. We encourage and teach, but we do not litigate or be aggressive and conflictive in nature.

Cheer up and build yourselves

1Thes. 5:11 Wherefore encourage one another, and build one another up, just as you do.

The truth of a saved person is that he encourages and edifies his brethren instead of fighting with them.

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Author Pastor David Cox

See also Why People leave your church (posts November 6, 2020)

Posted on November 26, 2023 by Pastor David Cox

ch44 Why we don’t charge for Ministering

Why we don’t charge for ministering

By David Cox

Matt 10:8 freely ye have received, freely give.

Part of the instructions that Jesus gave his disciples was to not put the Gospel or ministering on a give-if-you-pay basis. Serving if somebody pays, and not if they don’t is to commercialize the ministry. The principle behind this phrase, “freely ye have received, freely give.” is that everything we do in the ministry for God should be free, and should be given irrespective of financial giving by who gets the benefit of that works. God designed the ministry in such a way that the spiritually mature brethren pay for things, they teach the financial obligation to give to the spiritually immature, but leave giving as a free-will activity free of coercion or pressure. What cannot be done that way, should not be done at all.

We should seek our reward from God in heaven. When a people are unthankful, and finances don’t come in to support something, it should be stopped.

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Posted on November 10, 2023 by Pastor David Cox

ch49 The Biblical Pastor: The Biblical Duty

The Biblical Pastor: The Biblical Duty

By David Cox

You may reproduce this tract for non-profit purposes.

Jer 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

God has prepared the life of each believer in relation with a congregation and local community of believers, where there should be at least one man of God that “pastors them”. To pastor is to spiritually take care of the believers.

This is the heart of God, and it is his promise (Jeremiah 3:15). But the problem with many churches is that they do not understand nor know what are the duties of a pastor (and at times neither does the pastor), so we need to search the Scriptures to understand God’s teaching on this matter, what are the duties and responsibilities of a pastor.

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