Website is Spirituallysmart.com (Job 28:28). In 1997 I was forgiven by God through the gift of faith in His Son, Jesus the Christ (Messiah). I was then baptized in God's holy Spirit (born again). I've learned a lot since then. Most importantly, I've learned that keeping the greatest commandments are still in effect (Matt 22:36-40). See tlthe5th.com for more.
"Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of
Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will
hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind
striving together for the faith of the gospel;" Philippians 1:27
In my last post I discussed the word "striving" (agónizomai - See Here).
In Philippians 1:27 (above) is another Greek
word, "sunathleó", which adds "together" with the word "striving"
translated into English as "striving [together]" (KJV 1x) and
"laboured [with me]" (KJV 1x). Only 2 usages in the whole Bible. See
here: http://biblehub.com/greek/4866.htm
Except this word sunathleó means "striving
together". The Strong's concordance says, "I compete together with
others, cooperate vigorously with."
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance:
labor with, strive together for.
From sun and athleo; to wrestle in company with, i.e. (figuratively) to seek jointly -- labour with, strive together for.
The second and only other usage in the whole Bible, also by Paul, says:
"Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help
these women who "have shared my struggle" (NASB) or "laboured" (KJV)
(sunathleó) in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also
and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of
life." Philippians 4:3 NASB
See Paul was striving to unify the church in
the Holy Spirit. Seeking to unify the church under Christ and God the
Father. He says often throughout his writings how important this is.
And he boldly called out those who were causing divisions. Paul called
them "fleshly" (KJV- 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9)
"Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions
among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the
same judgment." 1 Corinthians 1:10
This exhortation stands firm today. So why then are there so many divisions among professing followers of Christ?
Paul boldly says, "Therefore I, the prisoner of
the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with
which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with
patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to
preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one
body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your
calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all
who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:1-6 http://biblehub.com/nasb/ephesians/4.htm
There is only ONE LORD. ONE FAITH, ONE CHRIST,
ONE BAPTISM. Christ is not divided! And yet we are fractured beyond
repair. Like the tower of babel. All speaking different things.
Different teachings, different doctrines.
Jesus clearly warned us "a house divided
against itself will fall." (Luke 11:17) What I am saying here from
God's Word shows clearly that MANY professing followers of Christ are
wrong. As they cannot ALL be right. And I by no means am saying for
people to compromise sound doctrine. But those of us who have been
born from above and fathered by God Almighty in Messiah, we have MUCH
to pray about. We need to break through to God. And we need to pray to
God and ask Him to present His people to this world. His true
servants in a clear and powerful way. And one way this can be done is
by signs and wonders being done at the hands of His servants. And I'm
not talking about all these false signs done in their phony services
on TV. I'm talking about verified and bonafide MIRACLES.
But this can only be done though those who are
have truly humbled themselves before God and are seeking Him and are
striving with Him for the cause of souls. I ask you to strive together
with God's Spirit through Christ. To seek Him yourself and not depend
on anyone else. WE must walk with Christ. We must be in fellowship
with Him. He must be our Shepherd. And this He promises to do through
His Spirit within us. Read and study John chapter 14.
I will end this message here but I ask you to
strive together with me (sunathleó) in prayer to our LORD and ask Him
to unify His church under HIS leadership. Just as Paul taught and
teaches today by the words God spoke through him to the churches of
Christ.
In Yeshua's Name Amen
Your brother in Christ, Thomas Richards
if you have never repented of your sins and been saved and feel the
desire to do so now please say this prayer. This is how I was
powerfully saved 20 years ago!
Say,
"My Lord and my God, Have mercy on my soul, a sinner, I
believe Jesus the Messiah died on the cross and shed His precious blood
for the forgiveness of all my sins. I believe God raised Jesus from the
dead and Jesus is now on the right hand of God and can hear my prayer at
this moment and wants to live through me and give me power to keep His
Word. I open up the door of my heart and I invite You into my heart Lord
Jesus. Please be my Lord and Savior in every aspect of my life. Thank
you God for saving my soul and I vow to serve you with all my heart
which is the first and greatest commandment. Amen"
Many professing Bible believers seem to think that God isn't serious when He says He requires our whole heart, our thoughts and our words (Luke 10:27; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 1 Peter 4:11; Ephesians 4:29; Matthew 12:36). That means they are actively presuming He is double-minded. But it's actually US who are double-minded "and unstable in ALL [our] ways" if we doubt God's first and greatest commandment (Matthew 22:36-40). And because of this we cannot ask anything from God "in faith" (James 1:6). And God says if we are doubting Him/His Word then we are like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind. "For that person must not suppose that he will receive ANYTHING from the Lord...." James 1.
As God instructs throughout His whole Word, our eye must be single (Matthew 6:22-23). We must sell all we have and buy that field or pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44-46). God requires we present ourselves as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), we are not our own (1 Corinthians 6:19) but have been purchased with the precious blood of Christ (Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 1:18, 19). We may know all these verses but have we received them into our spirit by revelation from the Holy Spirit. Can we, are we TRULY loving our neighbors as ourselves?
Is this too hard brothers and sisters? Does God ask too much? Did Jesus lie when He said His yoke is EASY and His burden light? And that we SHALL find REST unto our souls?
"Consequently a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God. For the one who enters God’s rest has also rested from his works, just as God did from his own works. Thus we MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENTER THAT REST, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience." Hebrews 4:9-11
Let our heart's cry be to enter into God's rest. And be made perfect in love. Let the truth afflict us and pierce our hearts and "Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom." James 4:9 And cry out to the living God for salvation. "He who endures to the end, the same shall be saved." (Matthew 24:13).
God requires ALL our heart, mind, soul and strength. And His yoke is easy (Greek word also means "pleasant"). These two go together like a hand and glove. Let us be honest with ourselves. Let us see ourselves for what we really are. Are we really serving God or seeking Him with all our heart?
Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.” Luke 10:28
Dear heavenly Father, I pray for all who read this. That You show us our hearts. And that You pinpoint the things that are holding us back from serving You. Father, I pray You put a burden in all of us to seek You more fervently. And that You cause us to accept the reproof in Your Word and apply it all intimately in our public and private lives. That we may abide in You and You in us so that we bear much fruit. So we will not be ashamed when we face you on that day. Father, we ask in the Name of Your Son. Jesus the Messiah. Amen.
INTRO: This blog pertains to my past involvement with Alamo Ministries. I lived on their properties a few short stretches but for the past 6 years I've supported their ministries from a far and over the Internet. It wasn't until I heard the testimony at Alamo's trial that I realized that he was a con artist. And WORSE. To find out more you can look through my older blog posts..
One connection I felt I had with Tony Alamo was the fact that he was the only "pastor" I ever heard preaching from 1st Proverbs (22-33)
God revealed Himself to me through those verses right before I got saved. 6 months before I ever heard of Alamo Ministries.
Just one small example as to why some people's connections to Alamo could be stronger or weaker.
I don't even want to continue down that road of speaking on these things (positive spiritual connections to Alamo). But people do make those kinds of connections. Then something you don't like happens, you concentrate on the positive spiritual connections you've made. Like when Tony would say something that didn't make sense or was flat out wrong I would think to the connections I've made and say to myself, "But he's the only one I know of that preaches one needs to fear God. And preaches 1st Proverbs" (That is just one example and did hold true for me).
Then these connections grow stronger and also multiply over the years. But what happens is you're put through so much from Tony in the church that you may become very familiar with running through the positive connections often. You do this to balance every thing out. I think after a while you don't have to think of these connections anymore because you're used to them persuading you. So then you begin to reject any critical thinking patterns that expose Alamo or whatever group you're a part of. And that's when these people become like a robot. They become resigned. They feel they could never leave the cult no matter what.
other connections can be,
"I have nowhere else to go"
"I have no job"
"I'm going to die on the streets if i leave"
Others have lead lonely lives and they like the other members of the group. They're very nice people and treat you kindly. That could be a strong connection. I know there are people like that at Alamo Ministries.
I think these connections is the key to each individual caught up in a cult. So the combination to the lock that would set them free could be different every time.
I think I see the spiritual ramifications in Alamo's cult have more of a hold. in other words. I think that if they have the spiritual connections to Alamo then it would be stronger than the carnal connections (such as he pays my rent and doctors bills). Once the carnal attachment is broken. Or the person leaves the church and get a job and are more secure they will no longer have any attachment. But Spiritual connections to Alamo like I had, carried me a lot further. Even to being a supporter of Alamo from outside the church for a while.
I know of people who were saved from reading Tony Alamo's literature and they were instantly delivered from addiction to crack. It was the Word of God that Tony placed in his gospel tract (pamphlet) that set this man free. Nevertheless it is a hold on that person now. That person feels that God used Alamo to save their soul. And that person talks about this event in their lives often. And so it affects others. This person's story affected me while I was there.
These are normal thought patterns though. People make connections like this in every area of their lives. My friends, loved ones, spouses, jobs, churches, whatever. So the reasons why people become connected to a cult isn't too hard to explain or understand.
More soon to come..
(Why do I call Alamo Ministries a "cult"? Because it is. It's manifested in several ways. The one that became clear to me was Tony's insistent preaching on polygamy and his embrace of Mormon doctrines and his embrace of other books like the book of Jasher. Which I enjoyed reading and thought there was some truths in there but didn't think it was really part of the "Word of God".)
