God Told Me
Matthew, Chapter Thirteen:
24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is
likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25But while men slept,
his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26But when
the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou
sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28He said unto them,
An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go
and gather them up? 29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root
up also the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in
the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and
bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
The sad thing about this parable is that the word “among” means “every other one”. Since the field is the church, and the wheat are saved church members, then the tares are lost church members placed there by the enemy (satan).
If we are to take this parable literally, then there are as many lost church members as there are saved ones. There are as many lost pastors as there are saved ones. It is no wonder, then, that there is so much trouble in the church and with “Christianity” in general. I am not saying that those involved in these illustrations are “lost” themselves but that lost people are so influencing our churches and the dealings of the church with the things of God and His ministry.
Some time ago, I asked people to send me some illustrations of trouble they have had with church and will some who call themselves “Christians”. This is the first in a series of instances which will serve to encourage those who are going through similar circumstances.
II Cor 1:4Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
Some time ago, a local pastor said to me that God had told him to do something. I replied to him that I thought that was wonderful and also asked him when he was going to do it.
He replied to me that he would “first have to ask some of his men if it was ok to do it.”
In the genera of the teenager of today: “No Duh!”
(This was the same pastor who told his congregation that “No one has the right to question” his messages from the pulpit because those messages come directly from God.)
If God tells you to do something, then do it! You do not need permission from anyone. Just make sure that it is God who is giving the command.
II Cor 3:1Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
Please let me remind you that the words that I have given you are in rough draft form and will be retyped and corrected.
I am still asking those of you, who will, to write me and give me your own personal testimonies that you believe may help others who may be going through the same troubles. I promise not to use the names of persons or places which may point back to you.
God bless …
Bro. Ott
