Weekly Thought

What has the Church to do with God?

What has the apparent Church to do with God?

The Lord Jesus Christ states in Matthew Ch 16 :16-18

16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

It was Peter’s confession of who Jesus was that the Lord said on that rock He would build His Church, Peter said “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God”

Surely that must mean that the words of The Lord Jesus Christ are beyond dispute for any Nation and in any Era for those who believe the above scripture and those to whom our Father has chosen to reveal it to.

As I sit here writing this article, I received the following news on my phone

Fewer than half of the population of England and Wales have described themselves as Christian for the first time, the 2021 census has revealed.

People who said they had no religion increased by 12 percentage points, while the number of people identifying as Muslim increased by 1.2 million.

Some 46.2% of the population said they were Christian – 27.5 million people, compared with 33.3 million in 2011.

The census is carried out every 10 years.

Run by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), it explores how British society is being shaped from people’s answers to questions about themselves, their household and their home.

The results help organisations make decisions on planning and funding public services including transport, education and healthcare.

The 2021 survey was held on 21 March of that year.

The results showed the number of people describing themselves as Christian dropped by 13.1 percentage points from 59.2% in 2011.

The ONS said the census question broadly asked “what is your religion” – referring to people’s affiliation, rather than their beliefs or active religious practices.

Professor Linda Woodhead, head of Theology and Religious Studies at King’s College London, said ticking “no religion” could still indicate a number of different beliefs.

She told BBC News: “Some will be atheist, a lot will be agnostic – they just say, ‘I don’t really know’ – and some will be spiritual and be doing spiritual things.

“But they don’t want to identify with a particular religion, and certainly not with institutional religion.”

These statistics point us to the very problem we have in a society that calls itself Christian. This includes all those who say they identify in being Christian who have never set foot in a place of worship also includes many hundreds of thousands who say they will only go to a place of worship 3 times in their life when they are Christened, Married and Buried. However, many do neither of them now.

Regarding Christening, which is a sham way of Biblical Baptism, I was in a church where the family brought their child to be Christened and as soon as the minister had finished putting water on the child’s head, they whole family walked out.

Regarding Marriage a couple can get married in various places nowadays, they have even gone as far as marrying same sex couples in churches something the God has utterly condemned throughout the scriptures both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. Regarding Burial a person can now have their own Do it yourself cremation these days which is being advertised every day in the media.

The Lord has reminded me many years about the title of this publication, but for reasons that I have no excuse, I have been reluctant to put pen to paper.

It is a deep sadness I feel that the church has gone so far from the Lord’s plan. If the reader really understood then they would know that my heart is for a church of unity in all respects.

However, I feel the time is right at this moment because of all the decadence of supposedly the Church of The Lord Jesus Christ, and if not that all the presumptuous self-righteousness of many others.  Also, for my own personal despondence of something that I have given my life to serve. Particularly when a Pastor or a church are standing for the Truth of God’s Word against all odds that they almost on every occasion they are very small gatherings, yet those who are men pleasers compromising the Truth have many followers. The devil has taken over majority of the Church of Jesus Christ today as is explained in the Book of Revelation Ch 2 & Ch 3. We all know that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against all the power of the Devil and his fallen angels, but those should in no way have control over God’s ‘Born Again’ Christian Church.

There is a saying that one can never find a perfect church because if you go there, it would no longer be perfect as the attendees are sinners. But is that not a defeatist attitude also making a way for every wind and wave of doctrine.

Ephesians Ch 4 v 14

4 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

As we take a careful study of the first miracle in the Gospel of

Mark Ch1 v 21-28

Jesus Casts Out an Unclean Spirit

21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority, He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

Jesus entered the synagogue on the sabbath to teach, and as a Rabbi it was His privilege but a man with an unclean spirit challenged him, Jesus cast out the spirit in the man which was one spirit. But he said what do you want with us meaning more than one. In fact, he seems to apply that they all in that place had the same spirit, but Jesus only cast out the one who came to him. There is a saying ‘Birds of a feather flock together’. This first miracle was a denominational spirit.

This shows us that each denomination of the Christian church has its own denominational spirit. This should not be surprising as every denomination started in the heart and mind of a man or group of people not in the heart of God.

1 Timothy 4:1

The Great Apostasy  

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

The Great Apostasy

2 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only. He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Both these scriptures explain to us the problem which the Lord showed the Apostle Paul would happen to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ both are headed The Great Apostasy.

There are so many ideas, doctrines and beliefs in the Christian Church that the people who have not had the chance to meet the Lord Jesus are so confused and, in most cases, they decide not to bother at all.

Then they see other religions who seem to be more together, yet they do not have a chance of Salvation in any of those beliefs even though they find unity and companionship amongst those of shared interests.

People have told me that in all the churches they have been visiting they only found love in the Spiritualist Church. How Sad!

Many have told me even through all the hatred that is often afflicted amongst the Islamic faith, they are all fixed on one central belief system explained in the Koran and only in Arabic can be found the truth. They do not waver to suit the gods of this age like the Christian sects / churches / denominations do.

The world is so divided, and all religions are fighting to promote their version of truth yet not just in religions but in all denominational preferences of the Christian Faith. That the ordinary man on the streets wants nothing to do with any, preferring to trust only in themselves and to try to live a good and charitable life. In that most are quite content consequently never to be seen to enter a religious building at all. Though buildings never will be the dwelling place of God in whatever religion, cult or denomination. The Christian teachings tell us that God has made a dwelling for himself inside of a believer’s heart, the religious temple had its curtain torn in two when Christ died on the cross. Thus, making a way for all to enter God’s presence.

I was with some people the other day when a lady said her niece was planning to marry another woman and she was not happy about it. However, the person said she could not condone it if the ceremony was inside a church building but if it were somewhere else, she would go, what hypocrisy!

There is no respect for Truth in the times we live in, because things are getting harder even many who purport to know the truth will not stand up for it.

The Church of The Lord Jesus Christ are the people and not some building whatever it has made of and from.

It was in this quagmire of Idolatries and Religious preferences since the fall of Adam and Eve that God sent His only Begotten Son to this earth, with a destiny to bring Truth to all people in whatever Nation on the face of this Earth, not only that but to be a guide to God’s Everlasting Kingdom and to pay for all of mankind’s sin on the cross of Calvary.

John Ch1 v 14

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Apostle Paul wrote in many places about his burden for all the churches even through his self-sacrificing lifestyle.

2 Corinthians Ch11 v 22-28

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So, am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool—I am more: in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting’s often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

Even through almost every hardship a man could go through Paul had a deep concern for all the churches.

If he did then, he certainly would now, for Truth had come to mankind, Mankind easily forgets things which do not suit them or if somehow it does not go with their present-day lifestyle. Paul in his day had a deep concern for the church in those days, and throughout the ages good Christian brothers and sisters has tried so hard and many even lost their lives in trying to fulfil the commission Jesus gave to His Apostles. The Church has been through many persecutions right until this day and will continue to do so until The Lord Jesus calls an end to it, then time will no-more.

There is not a lot that we can do about it except to keep in His Will. One thing the Church can do is to get back to what Paul and the Apostles taught which is what this book is all about.

If one wanted to name everything that the supposedly Body of Christ believes, then 75% needs to be done away with.

This is because Christians are always looking for new revelation but ignoring what has already been revealed throughout the scriptures.

In the words of John the Baptist “I must decrease so He can increase”

2 Peter Ch 1 v 1-4

Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ.

To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the ]corruption that is in the world through lust.

He has given us all things that we will need for this life and godliness. Throughout history The Church has had suffered many schisms and heresies just like the hymn ‘The Church’s One Foundation’

Verse 3

Though with a scornful wonder, men see her sore oppressed, 

by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed, yet saints their watch are keeping, their cry goes up, “How long?” And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.

Samuel John Stone from Staffordshire approx: 1862 wrote the words to this hymn even then he could obviously see the Lord’s Church in decline. The verse finishes with the cry ‘How Long’ we are waiting for that morn of song, as we do not have much to sing about except of course all what Jesus went through on the cross, everything that Jesus has accomplished has given us much to rejoice over.

But really has the church got a lot to rejoice over when we see the state of the present-day church and how it has been allowed to get into such a state.

Since then, more and more false teachings, false revivals leaving the Church in a broken state and getting worse as the moral decline in the world is invading the Lord’s beloved Church.

After the decline of the churches of that time, the Lord restored the gift of tongues to the Apostolic Church in 1900 under the Leadership of Charles Parham then in Azusa Street 1906 which was the launch of the Pentecostal Denominations. But like other denominations of today they promoted women to be ministers still denying the scriptures and defying God’s plan as stated in

1 Timothy 2 v 12

12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.

This I believe brought great expectations for the furtherance of the Gospel, but again people were looking for something else, then we had the Charismatic Revival which is very much in full swing at this time. But then came the Toronto ‘Revival’ and people were seeking something different and travelled overseas just to get a blessing which they thought was of God.

After that came the Lakeland Revival this opened the door to every demonic spirit to enter people. It was embraced in most churches throughout our land and much further across the Nations. It led to majority of unsuspecting believers to have tattoos which are condemned by the Lord in His precious Word. All the above are part of the Great Apostacy as mentioned before.

Leviticus Ch 19 v 28

28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor

tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.

 It was a pagan practice for the dead, when people do it today, they are making a contact with the spirits of the dead as would a spiritism medium. People thinking, they could get a similar anointing (false) like the leader of that so-called revival who had many tattoos on his body each one representing a demon, he had them since he was a preacher and not before.

All these practices the church mainly accepted them, in fact when it gets exposed as being demonic the believers are not interested in deliverance from it as they think that as they are a Christian they are beyond reproach. These teaching are far from the message of the Bible for if we walk in sin and deception, we lay ourselves down before the devil himself as he is the great deceiver.

The book of Amos explains what it will be like before Jesus returns

Amos Ch 8 v 11-13 states

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God “That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,

But of hearing the words of the Lord. 12 They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but shall not find it. 13 “In that day the fair virgin, and strong young men Shall faint from thirst.

There will not be a shortage of the written Word I am sure but not all translations are valid compared to the King James Version. But even now there is a shortage of people hearing the Word of God, spoken through an anointed preacher because of Fear of the people or political correctness of this age. Even though the Word of God never changes in whatever Era we are born into-

Jesus is the same Yesterday Today and Forever.

So, one thing we can rely on is that we can have the opportunity to preach the exact same message as the first Apostles. Even in those denominations that supposedly have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit the leaders and preachers are so afraid even if they know the truth to bring God’s Word to the congregation in fear of upsetting or losing the flock. As though God’s Word need protecting from His people, they probably think they are doing God a service or God cannot protect His Word.

2 Timothy 3:5

5 Having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

The title of this publication is

‘What has the Church to do with God’

To sum it up, below are a few of the many beliefs inside supposedly The Church of Jesus Christ:

• Some believe children should be baptised, some believe baptism is only for believers and some think you can be baptised many times until you feel right. Some say you can get baptised in proxy for the unsaved that have already died.
• Some remember the Lord’s supper (communion), some never take it, some say the wine must be alcoholic wine some say different.
• Some believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for today, some say it was done away with after the first Apostles, also some say speaking in tongues finished after the KJV bible was printed.
• Some say the church is a building, some say believers are the church,
• Some say once saved always saved, some say you can lose your salvation, others say salvation is an onward process.
• Some say a Christian can still have a demon, others say not.
• Some say women can be Priests and Bishops others say that role is reserved only for men.
• Some say only people ordained can preach, others say we can all preach.
• Some say if you have been divorced you cannot Preach in the church, but the same person can preach outside the church. Others say all can speak if they have shown repentance.
• Some believe you should pray to the saints or the virgin Mary who are dead and they will answer the prayers of the living, some same only pray to God alone and some say pray to God through and in the name of Jesus.
• Some say anyone can get their prayers answered, others say one needs to get spiritually right before God for Him to answer you.
• Some say a man must not cover his head and a woman must do so in prayer. Others say that scripture is no longer valid in our cultural society.
• Some say you can get to Heaven even if you do not accept Jesus by living a good life, others say there is only one way to Heaven and that is by accepting Jesus who paid the price on the cross for your sins.
• Some say you can be saved through any religion if you are sincere, others say it is only through the cross of Jesus Christ that there is Salvation.
• Some say there will be a Rapture of the Church and it will before or in the middle of the tribulation, others say it will be at the end of the tribulation. Still others say there is no Rapture. Others say the rapture of believers will be just before the Wrath of God is poured out on the earth.
• Some say the church will reign with Christ on this earth for 1000 years alongside all those who have already died even though many hundreds of years ago, yet some say we are reigning with Christ now in heavenly places.
• Some say you cannot have a church meeting until you have a picture or painting of Jesus on display especially behind the pulpit where the preacher stands proving that Jesus is in the meeting. Some say that is idolatry and should not be so.
• Some say that healing in the church is not for today as God has given the medical profession with the knowledge. Some say the church has the power to perform healings and miracles today.
• Some say Jesus is the Archangel Michael. Some say he is the only Begotten Son God. Some say Jesus and the devil are brothers.
• Some say that worship must be done on the original sabbath day of the Jewish religion which is a Saturday and to worship on a Sunday is the ‘mark of the beast’

Here are just a few ideas / deceptions, heresies and truths that are in the body of Christ today, I am sure there are many more, no wonder there are so many people who are not even interested in the Church at all.

If all these beliefs were as God and as Jesus had intended, then our God is a schizophrenic.

It all leaves people confused and the Bible states that God is not the author of confusion.

That is the devil’s role. So why is this so?

Many people will say that they are not interested at all in Christianity because they say the Bible was written by man. That is not quite true, The Bible is the inspired Word of God and originally was penned by men whom God chose to do it. But the interpretations which we have today, and which is causing the confusion is man’s ideas.

2 Timothy 3 v 16

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

No! the Lord’s Church was in His heart and mind when He said

“I will build my church and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it”.

In the Oxford English Dictionary, it gives the meaning of Prevail –

To ‘prove more Powerful’ or ‘to have greater Power’

That is true for when deception is confronted by Truth, God’s Word will have precedence and people will know even if they do not acknowledge it, that whatever their stance that they are fighting to uphold will crumble under God’s Truth.

Jesus was being interrogated by Pilate

John 18 v 37-38

37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You, say rightly that I am a king. For this cause, I was born, and for this cause, I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

Pilate knew when he faced the Truth even though he did not know how to deal with it.

For the Church of Jesus Christ, we know when we are faced with the Truth, we should be able to know how to deal with it.

Pray and seek his face, then change whatever needs to be changed.

The same problem existed in the Old Testament when the Jewish Nation veered from God’s Word they went into captivity.

When King Saul disobeyed, he lost his anointing.

The churches of Revelation are an example of what the Lord thinks of them and how He was prepared to deal with them. The churches of Revelation are a mirror of the church of today.

A lady who was in the desperate need of deliverance spoke to me the other day. I asked her which church she attended but all she could tell me that it was a modern lively church as they have large music group and raise their hands and danced etc. But was not the church of Sardis very much like that

Revelation Ch 3 v 1

3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says, He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

They had all sorts of self -indulgence in that church but the Lord said ‘You are Dead’

I pray the whole of the church of Christ will see the error of our ways and let God back in charge before the world is lost.

Get back to basics.

Pastor David W Measures

Key to Revival?
Could this be the Key to the greatest Revival the UK has ever known?

Surely the Lord Jesus did not instruct His Church (Believers) to do something that just does not work. 

Matthew Ch18 v 19

19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

All over this nation I believe the churches and believers are holding on to this scripture for Salvation for the people of this Nation and maybe the whole World, hoping that the Lord will keep to His Word. 

Though let us be honest it is not working! 

Rather than the church of Christ increasing it is seemingly diminishing. 

The Lord gave us His precious Word for us to believe, yet almost every church / denomination believes differently. People make the excuse like “well if you just believe Jesus died for mankind’s sin and rose from the dead that is good enough for people to join together in prayer. What a deception this is?

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Lord is not double minded in fact the Holy Spirit is a person, so when He inspired the Apostles to pen the Bible, He had a specific meaning, not to pick and choose for anyone of us including church Leaders and Denominations.

For years I have been told that we must respect other peoples’ ideas, but surely not to the detriment to what the Bible states.

Some examples I wish to give are 1/ I once prayed for a deformed man from a denominational church and the Lord healed him, afterwards his church told him it was from the devil because all the gifts of the Holy Spirit stopped with the first Apostles.

2/ A man came to me from a large Spirit filled church who was obviously controlled by demons, he got set free. Afterwards his church told him ‘that is called ‘doctrine of Demons’ he needed to renounce the prayers, the man finished up on Drugs and a homosexual.

Time and again people put on special ‘Prayer for the Nation meetings’ quoting what happened in the 2nd World War when the Lord delivered this Nation. That was great, BUT majority are not like the believers at that time by a long way.

Everywhere throughout the world Christians are saying we are in the last days, which could be very true, if that is the case then the message I am about to give is of paramount importance.

Nothing has changed, for when truth is brought forth, Christians just want to decide to accept what is suitable for them but not for the Lord.

Ezekiel Ch 3 v 5-7

“Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. 5 For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel, 6 not to many people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted.

Whenever I speak on the subject below people say, ‘God see my heart’ –

That is true! So, “if God sees your heart then why are you not obeying His Word?” is my answer. 

I Samuel 15 v 23

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

For to not obey is ‘witchcraft’. God will never answer prayers of witchcraft.

Jesus told Nathaniel in 

John 1 v 51

51 And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

So, by this scripture we see that the angels who are ministering spirits are already with us as it states they are ascending then descending (going up then coming down taking our prayers up to God and hopefully bring back the answers).

The Bible states there are 3 heavens 1/ the heaven we can see 2/ Satan’s rule 3/ Highest Heaven where God resides. 

Saying that our prayers have to go through the demonic heaven, so obviously they will all get aborted by Satan and the principalities if we are in rebellion.

Remember in the Book of Daniel Ch 10 v 12-13 Daniel humbled himself before God and he was an obedient righteous person, yet his prayers were hindered by Satan twenty-one days and Michael the Archangel had to fight for him. If his prayers were hindered? then what can be said for the Church in rebellion?

I also want to add to this message that Satan does answer requests as many get healed by visiting mediums and spiritisms, I have testimonies to prove that, I will include one later.

So, to get to my reason for writing this article is that maybe we just need to do something a little different, absolutely no problem if one truly loves God.

In fact the Apostle Paul states that those churches that obey this scripture belong to God and those that do not obey do not belong to God.

1 Corinthians Ch 11 v 2-16

Head Coverings

2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonours his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonours her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. 6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. 10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority (Power KJV) on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. 12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God

13 Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonour to him? 15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, (argumentative or disputing) we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God. (Churches that belong to God). 

At that time there were Jewish, Ephesian, Thessalonian, Philippian, Roman as well as Corinthian Churches. 

It is I am sure because of Ignorance of God’s Word and the desperation for inclusion of all people that Leaders are willing to disregard this very important part of the Word of God, they are excluding themselves from God’s Church as the Apostle explains in v16.

 It is about God’s Creation order which is God-Christ-Man-Woman. If a man prays to God with his head covered, he dishonours Christ.

Many large Denominations have a male Leader with his head covered, yet scripture tells us he is dishonouring Christ. You can see the fruits of their beliefs which are totally against the Word of God.

The fruit of the Anglican Church is Women Bishops & Priests, Infant Baptism, same sex Marriage, Freemasonry in Clergy, Homosexual & Lesbian Clergy, Idolatry. etc

The fruit of the Catholic Church is Infant Baptism, Prayers to the dead, prayers to Mary, Purgatory, Idolatry, Brown Scapular of Mt Carmel. Rosary.

In the light of this scripture all are dishonouring Christ, sadly all those under this type of leadership are missing out of many blessings as they are under the head.

Every man praying or prophesying dishonours his head (Christ)There was a time when the Apostle Paul wanted to go into the Temple to try to win over the Jews who were all trusting in the Law. So, Paul have his head shaved so he could go in as a Nazarite. Every man who entered the Jewish Temple then and now had to cover their head, Paul knew if he did that, he would be dishonouring Christ, hence he shaved his head. Eventually the Jews latched on to who he was, and it started a riot to the point that the authorities had to rescue him to save his life.

Acts Ch 21 v 18-33 

18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; 21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. 25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 

Arrested in the Temple26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them.27 Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore, he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 

29 (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) 

30 And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. 31 Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the commander came near and took him and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done.

So, obviously this principle of Head Covering is nothing to do with the Law or legalism as some would say. James and the elders were trying to also kept the Jewish traditions as well as their newfound faith. That is the same today when a messianic Jew still covers his head (skull cap), He is dishonouring Christ.

Now to the ladies just because we live in the 20th /21st century it does not mean God’s Governmental rule has changed.

There are 2 systems working 1/ System of Grace 2/ System of Government. Most only understand the system of Grace.

God’s Grace cannot override His Government. 

In the Lord’s prayer we say ‘Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven’ –

That is His Governmental rule

E.g. King David sinned afterwards he received forgiveness that is Grace. The Lord told him the sword will never leave his house and he will lose your wives and the child will die that is Government.

God’s Grace can never override His Government.

The practice of head covering is to do with God’s Government. Are the churches under God or Not? Either God is the head or man is.

V10 states:

For this reason, the woman should have a symbol of authority or (Power KJV) on her head because of the angels.

Authority or Power over the angels. The woman does not need authority of the many angels who love her but certainly she does need it over the fallen angels (the principalities and powers).

Ladies you are not protected when you are doing spiritual warfare. You need a protection as stated in 

Isaiah Ch 4 v 5-6 KJV

5 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. 6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain. 

The God Baal was known as the God of the storm and the rain.

Upon all the glory (a woman’s hair) shall be a defence. A lady needs God’s protection. 

The Bible states that if a woman does not cover her hair, then she should have her hair cut off (shave her head). It is God’s Glory that needs to be in prominence; God does not want to see a woman’s glory. 

When a lady prays with her hair covered, she is making a statement to the good angels that she understands and is willing to submit to God’s governmental rule. Not like Eve who disobeyed and acted independently, resulting in both she and Adam were thrown out of the garden.

Also, a Lady is making a statement to the powers of darkness that she has authority over them. Satan is watching!

Satan originally was the covering angel as stated in Ezekiel Ch 28 so he knows the importance of it, his prime aim now is to get the church out of cover and he is doing very well, understanding this teaching is necessary. 

In Islam they are so adamant on head covering that they are even willing to kill to continue the practice. In fact, they have taken such a beautiful principal and made the Christians so averse to it. 

Before the end of the second world war when prayers for the Nation were vital for our survival a Lady would never enter into prayer without having a cover on her head. 

But since then we have witnessed the Jezebelic Feminist movement along with free- love and up to the point today where we are getting like Sodom and Gomorrah, and the majority of the church are accepting it with no understanding except that they thing God has changed His mind on the whole affair.

Even to the point that so-called Christians are quite willing to argue about doing what the Word says, I have had to try to defend God Word against all opposition. Here are some of the objections to the principle of Head Covering

1/ I do not need to do it God sees my heart.

Answer– If your heart is right then why not obey His Word.

2/ This was only for the Corinthian Church as they had immorality in there.

 (this idea came from Adam Clarke 1762-1832 who was a British Methodist Theologian taught that prostitutes covered their heads.)

Answer – What is so different with the modern-day Church.

3/ My Hair is my covering

Answer–If Hair is covering then what about men in 1 Corinthians Ch 11 v 6 it states that men should not be covered. If you are right, then all men must have their head shaved.

4/ My prayers get answered already.

Answer—I hope God answered your prayers as I know of a top surgeon who was cured from an incurable cancer and he was healed in the Spiritualist church.

5/ It is old-fashioned

Answer—So is, Salvation and Baptism and Sin, so is the whole of the Bible

6/ It is only a Symbol.

Answer—Symbols are very powerful; Baptism is a symbol the water is not special but scripture states if you are buried with Him in baptism you shall be raised with him. Communion is only a symbol, bread and wine, people each and drink every day. But scripture states because you have eaten it in the wrong manner many are sick and many sleep (died). 

So, this is a very powerful scripture which the churches have chosen to ignore for whatever reason. Usually because the congregation are rebellious and just will not submit to God Rule. 

I can only pray that this will be a major principle for all the churches throughout this nation to adhere to, if we all could meet in unity under God’s Governmental Rule maybe at last, we might see salvation of the UK before it is too late.

Though all must obey otherwise if only 90% obey then the prayer meeting is divided and have stepped back into rebellion.

I know that certain churches would wholeheartedly agree with me with this teaching, yet are divided by not accepting the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. 

Whenever a Nationwide prayer-call is made to Pray for this Nation the Leaders quote from the following scripture, but they never tell the people how to fulfil it.

2 Chronicles Ch 7 v 14

4 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The church of Jesus Christ needs to be serious about God if it wants to be in the acceptable place in these last days. 

Pastor David W Measures
Yesterday Today & Forever Church

A Pleasing Walk
The Apostle Paul taught the Colossian church: “Walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).

What is required for a pleasing walk? Paul tells us: “Put on therefore, as the chosen of God, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, whoever has a complaint against another; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” (Colossians 3:12-13, my paraphrase).

Paul is telling us in so many words: “Here is my word to you in these critical times. In light of the hard times you know are coming, you are to measure your walk with the Lord.”

In other words, we are to ask ourselves: “Am I becoming more like Christ? Am I growing more patient, or more quick-tempered? Kinder and gentler, or meaner and more argumentative? More tender and forgiving, or more bitter, holding onto grudges? Do I ‘bear with others’? Do I put up with the weaknesses and faults of those near to me, or do I always have to be right?”

Paul is suggesting that, in light of such a coming day, it doesn’t matter what works you accomplish or what charitable deeds you do. No matter how kind you are to strangers, no matter how many souls you bring to Christ, this question remains: Are you becoming more loving, patient, forgiving, forbearing?

Examining your walk with Christ means looking not so much at what you are doing, as at what you are becoming. Such a walk cannot be achieved by human effort alone. It won’t happen by self-determination, merely saying, “I am going to become that kind of believer.” Rather, it happens by the work of the Holy Spirit, through faith in his Word.

First, we read these words and believe them to be God’s call to us, to examine ourselves. So we ask the Spirit to show us who we truly are, and measure ourselves by his Word. Then we ask the Holy Spirit to help us change.

God’s Fire Still Burns
Sadly, much of Christ’s Body today resembles a modern-day Valley of Dry Bones. It is a wilderness filled with the bleached skeletons of fallen Christians. Ministers and other devoted believers have flamed out because of a besetting sin.

And now they are filled with shame, hiding out in caves of their own making. Like Jeremiah, they have convinced themselves, “I will not make mention of [the Lord], nor speak any more in his name” (Jeremiah 20:9).

God is still asking the same question he asked Ezekiel: “Can these dead bones live again?” The answer to this question is an absolute, “Yes!” How? It happens by the renewing of our faith in God’s Word.

The Word of the Lord is itself a consuming fire. Indeed, it’s the only true light we have during our dark nights of despair. It’s our only defense against the enemy’s lies, when he whispers, “It’s all over. You’ve lost the fire. And you’re never going to get it back.”

The only thing that will bring us out of our darkness is faith. And faith comes by hearing God’s Word. We simply have to cling to the Word that has been implanted in us. The Lord has promised, “I will not let you go down; therefore, you have no reason to despair. There’s no cause for quitting. Rest in my Word.”

You may think, “But this dark night is worse than anything I’ve ever known. I’ve heard a thousand sermons on God’s Word, but none of it seems of any value to me now.” Don’t fret; God’s fire still burns in you, even if you can’t see it. And you’re to pour onto that fire the fuel of faith. You do this by trusting the Lord. When you do, you’ll see all your doubts and lusts consumed.

God’s Spirit is breathing life again into every set of dry bones. He’s reminding them of the Word he implanted in them. And those who once lay dead are being revived. They’re crying as Jeremiah did, “God’s fire has been shut up in me for too long. I simply can’t hold it any longer. I can feel the Lord’s power raising me up. He’s putting life in me. And I’m going to speak the Word he gave me. I’m going to proclaim his mercy and healing power.”

Fear & Awe
The prophets warn us that when we see God shaking the nations, and perilous times befall us, our natural man will fear greatly. Ezekiel asked, “Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee?” (Ezekiel 22:14).

When God warned Noah of his coming judgments and told him to build an ark, Noah was “moved with fear” (Hebrews 11:7). Even bold, courageous David said, “My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments” (Psalm 119:120). And when the prophet Habakkuk saw disastrous days ahead, he cried out, “When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble…” (Habakkuk 3:16).

Please note as you read theses passages: The fear that came upon these godly men wasn’t a fleshly fear, but a reverential awe of the Lord. These saints weren’t afraid of the enemy of their souls but they did fear God’s righteous judgments. And that’s because they understood the awesome power behind the approaching calamities. They didn’t fear the outcome of the storm, but rather God’s holiness!

Likewise, each of us will experience overwhelming fear in the coming times of destruction and disaster. But our fear must come from a holy reverence for the Lord, and never from a fleshly anxiety about our fate. God despises all sinful fear in us, the fear of losing material things, wealth, our standard of living.

All over the world, people are filled with this kind of fear, as they see their nations’ economies deteriorating. They’re afraid an economic flood will sweep away everything they’ve labored for throughout their lifetime. Such is the cry of unbelievers who have no hope. It ought not to be the cry of the godly. Indeed, if you’re a child of God, your heavenly father will not endure such unbelief in you. Isaiah warned: “Who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; and forgettest the Lord thy maker…and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor…” (Isaiah 51:12-13). “Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread [awe]” (8:13).

Let God be your fear and awe. That kind of fear leads not to death, but to life!

The Divine Exchange

1. Jesus was punished that we might be forgiven.
2. Jesus was wounded that we might be healed. Surely he hath borne our griefs (literally, sicknesses), and carried our sorrows (literally, pains): yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement (punishment) of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes (wounds) we are healed. Isaiah 53 v 4-5
3. Jesus was made sin with our sinfulness that we might become
4. Jesus was made sin with our sinfulness that we might become righteousness. For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5 v 21)
5. Jesus died our death that we might share his life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6 v 23)
6. Jesus became poor with our poverty that we might become rich with his riches. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.(2 Corinthians 8 v 9)
7. Jesus bore our shame that we might share his glory. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost (Matthew 27 v 46 & 50). Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none (Psalm 69 v 20).
8. Jesus endured our rejection that we might have his acceptance as children of God. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1 v 5-6)
9. Jesus became a curse that we might receive a blessing. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Galatians 3 v 13-14).

Genesis Ch 44 v 33-34 – A Man with God’s Heart
“Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my Lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. “For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?”

These were the words of Judah, he was one of the brothers, who agreed to sell Joseph into slavery many years earlier. In this story he is faced with the dilemma of either allowing his younger brother Benjamin to go into slavery to Pharaoh (which would bring unbearable grief to his father Jacob) or to offer his own life in place of his brother Benjamin. Benjamin had been wrongly accused of stealing from Joseph, who at that time was Pharaoh’s no2. No doubt the wrong done to Joseph left Judah with time to consider his actions. He was not prepared to make the same mistakes again and consequently he offered his life as a substitute. This did not go unnoticed by Joseph, for surely it showed Judah’s repentance through his change of heart.

The apostle Paul states in Romans Ch 9 v 3: “For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countryman according to the flesh.”

Jesus stated in the gospel of John Ch 15 v 13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

If we follow on in the scriptures, we can notice that the greatest blessing of their father Jacob, didn’t go to Joseph but to Judah. Genesis Ch 49 v 10 states: The sceptre shall not depart from Judah. Consequently Jesus was born into the family line of Judah.

Judah was concerned about going back to his father without his brother; this is the attitude we should have towards all those we know and love. For surely how can we go back to our father in Heaven without taking others with us, we need to have a change of heart like Judah.