Why don’t you have what you need? Ignorance separates us from the life of God. By Alan Ballou.
Your prayers are not going unanswered because you are not saying the right words. You are not living in lack because you didn’t send me your last $100. No, you are separated from the life of God because you refuse to change the way you live everyday (Ephesians 4:17-19).
Tithing is not the answer to all of your problems. Contrary to popular belief, life and peace of mind do not come through tithing and owing nothing on your house. Get this! God is able to meet all of your needs, and give you peace, even if you are eye balls deep in debt and don’t tithe, because the promises for life and peace have nothing to do with either one.
The promises in Matthew 6:33 and Hebrews 11:6 have nothing to do with tithing, or giving and what do they promise? Do they promise receiving everything you worry about plus rewards (Matthew 6:25-34)? What do the instructions say? Better check.
Isn’t it obvious why there isn’t any difference in the level of peace between the people who attend church weekly and those who do not? Does attending church guarantee that people will even hear the promises I have mentioned so far, much less live by them? It should, but reality is that church has turned into something other than a gathering of the faithful in Christ (saints).
Does tithing work? Yes it does. Regardless whether you tithe in accordance with the way Abraham gave, or required tithing, which is inline with the Laws of Moses (Hebrews 7:5), tithing works, but that doesn’t mean you will have life and peace, or the favor of the Lord, or even have all of your needs met. It just means you will have a return, either as a gift (Luke 6:36), or out of obligation for those under the Laws of Moses (Romans 4:4). However, those under the Law will not be heirs (Romans 4:14-15).
Answered prayers are not connected to the amount of money you give in a place called church. You can’t buy your way into making God answer your prayers. Attending church every week for the next twenty years doesn’t guarantee that you will ever get one prayer answered or even hear the promises you need to live by in order to receive (2 Peter 1:3-4). Although, you may have a bigger support group during your misfortune. Sweet!
When destruction hits and there is no answer from God, some people sum it up by saying things like, “God just does what He wants to, when He wants to.” That’s not exactly true. No, God does what His Word says that He will do. He will remain faithful to His Word, point, blank, period (2 Timothy 2:13). Check it!
That means that God’s next move is very predictable. If you knew the scriptures, you should be able to see what is in your near future depending on what you have done. It’s just that simple when you live by faith; the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). So, go ahead and name the promises you are living by right now? If that’s kind of hard for you to do, then listen up, because I am talking to you.
We can know exactly what God will do through His Word. It doesn’t have to be a guessing game. Knowing that to be true, we can also know that there is a reason down here on earth why our prayer is not answered. Rather than just attending a church service and thinking that is enough, my advice is to find out Who God is and how He will respond to His people through what He has written.
I’m not saying don’t go to church, although we can simply “be the church” where we choose to gather, whether in someone’s home or backyard rather than having to go to church. I’m saying that we need to know the Word of God for ourselves, and if we are not learning that in a building called church, then why are we meeting there?
You say, “We meet to worship,” but here again something is wrong because the type of worship God wants from us is to offer our everyday life to Him by not following the ways of this world (do not conform), and by renewing our minds with the truth until we are transformed into new people (Romans 12:1-2 below), or born again through the Word of truth (1 Peter 1:22-25). So, are we really gathering to worship?
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. NKJV
Lets see. We go to a church building to participate in a program, designed by men, which only vaguely resembles what is written in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 14:26-40, 11:17-34), and then we do almost anything but renew our minds with the truth to the point of being transformed. I wonder why it isn’t working. Go figure.
That’s like saying, “gracious God, we are going to give you what our best trained men have come up with, and we think you should be happy with it. We honestly believe that You, God are so happy with what we are doing that if anyone brings your old ways up to us, we will gladly mistreat him just as our fathers did the other prophets you sent.” P.S. in the loving name of Jesus.
Get this. God has already given us everything we need for this life (2 Peter 1:3-4). That’s past tense. The life God desires for us is that we would have more than what we need right now (John 10:10). Imagine that. God has already given us more than what we would ever need here on earth; an abundant life.
John 10:10
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. NKJV
The reason we do not have what God has already given us, is because we are separated from the life of God. The reason we are separated from the life of God is because we are ignorant, and we are ignorant because we have not renewed our minds with the truth (Ephesians 4:17-19, Romans 12:1-2). Get it?
Ephesians 4:17-19
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; NKJV
Notice He says that we cannot walk (live) like the rest of the people on the earth who have a useless (futile) mind. Why? Because they have a darkened understanding and are separated from the life of God, due to ignorance, and blindness of heart. Good church attending people have been trying to prove God wrong in that passage of scripture since before I was born.
A blind heart can take you off in a direction that is against God, and you will not know it until after you get there, and need God to rescue you. That’s when you will cry out to God and He will not answer, since He has already decreed that the person who heard his corrections (rebuke), but continued in the opposite direction will eat the fruit he has made (Proverbs 1:22-33, below). After this happens, what do we declare with our darkened understanding? The devil is on my back! No, we are just ignorant of God’s ways.
Proverbs 1:22-33
22 ‘How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. 23 Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, 25 Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27 When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord, 30 They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. 31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. 32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.” NKJV
There is a song I hear on the radio sometimes that says, “When God ran.” I think one needs to be made with that same tune that says, “When God laughed” (verse 26 above). When we don’t listen to God, He doesn’t listen to us. In fact, it says He will laugh. Imagine that. So guess what happens after we come up with our own style of worship, and live in a way that we think God should be pleased with and calamity hits? How should God respond to that?
What if we throw in about an hours worth of prayer on top of that? Would God be impressed then? What if we meet five times a week, but keep doing the same thing? What if we tithe from now on, would it make God overlook Romans 12:1-2, which is our reasonable service? What if we do everything we’ve been doing for the past fifty years? Have we not taken the way of Cain in giving God what we thought rather than giving God what He wants (Jude 1:11, Genesis 4:3-5)?
We baked a cake for you, but with the wrong ingredients. Oh God will You please take away this bad cake we made and bless us anyway? In order to get something different, we would have to start over with the right ingredients. We can be forgiven for making a mess of things if we repent, but we reap what we sow. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of making bad cakes.
So, the first order of business for any Christian is to renew their mind with the truth (Romans 12:1-2), and allow the truth to change their heart (Hebrews 4:12). Repent of the past if you didn’t do this and start today.
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. NKJV
There is no way around that. We have to stop conforming to this world (stop doing what the people of this world are doing), and renew our mind to the point of being transformed. Then and only then will we be able to remain in the will of God; prove the will of God (verse 2 above). Until then the Christian life is hit or miss.
After we are transformed, the Word itself, living on the inside of us, can save us (James 1:21), give us an inheritance among those who are sanctified (Acts 20:32), and judge our attitudes, thoughts, and the intent of our heart (Hebrews 4:12).
Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. NKJV
So, what’s my intent in writing this post? Is it to get more money? Do you think I write to please men? No my friend, just like the Apostle Paul did everything to make the people obedient, so is my work, and so is everyone whom the Lord has sent to you (Romans 15:18). The rest are called by men to fill a building, raise money. get the crowd going, or whatever, but they do not teach people to obey Jesus Christ or come to know Him in accordance with His Word (Ephesians 4:20-24, 1 John 2:3). Recognize false prophets by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-20).
A Christian who is transformed, will not live like one who is not. The Word of God living in him will not only bring him life, but also heath to his body (Proverbs 4:20-23). He will not conform to the ways of this world, meaning he will not do the accepted thing according to this world’s standards, but he will obey his new heart and receive favor from the Lord (Proverbs 8:32-36). We need to know that.
I’ve met people who have been in church for years, but have somehow missed this, probably because it’s not being taught. However, once they start living according to what the Bible requires of us, things begin to happen in their life spiritually. Most of them cannot believe that such a simple change makes all the difference.
Why? Fleshly things give birth to more flesh, and spiritual things give birth to more spirit (John 3:6). The Word itself is Spirit and gives life (John 6:63). You might think that there is nothing wrong with the latest pop song on the radio, and maybe there isn’t. However, a mind-set on the things of the flesh is death, but when a person’s mind is set on the things of the Spirit, they will have life and peace (Romans 8:6).
Romans 8:5-8
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. NKJV
That’s worshiping God in truth and in spirit, and God is seeking people who will worship Him in that way (John 4:23). With our minds we serve the law of God, but with the flesh we serve the law of sin (Romans 7:25). Whatever a person desires and sets his mind to do, that is what has the authority to control him (Romans 6:15-18). What controlled you today, and even better, what will control you tomorrow because of what you did today (Romans 6:15-18, 1 Peter 3:10-12)?
As quick as a Christian gets back on the right track, and repents of the past, he opens the door to the life of God. All of a sudden he sees things he hasn’t seen in himself, and he willingly makes changes for the better. Why? The Word of God works all by itself on the inside of those who believe it. Read that again out loud.
1 Thessalonians 2:13
13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. NKJV
All I’m looking for is someone who believes the Word of God. It doesn’t matter how bad the situation is as long as I am working with a believer. It doesn’t matter if he has AIDS, or if he is on crack, or alcohol, or if he is living in sexual sins. Just send me a believer; someone who believes 100% what is written in his Bible.
The Word of God works just like it is written on the inside of those who believe it! So, why can’t you go to church and be filled with the Word of God just like it is written? Why do we dodge certain sections and make up our own ways? Could it be that we don’t want the Word of God to work just like it is written because then people would follow it? No, that couldn’t be it because that’s like saying the church is filled with the enemy. Well what is it then?
If all you have been doing is attending a church service where you get two or three verses combined with philosophy preaching on Sunday morning, and afterwards you fill your mind with worldly music, TV, and the like, then brace yourself. You are going to need some help outside of what you can handle in the near future (Luke 6:46-49). Calamity, without remedy is brewing.
You might say, I have been putting the Word in, but it’s not working like you are describing it here. Through serving others in the past, I have found that most people in this condition have filled themselves, or are filling themselves with one verse devotionals, or books and other materials that claim to be Word based, but is full of philosophy and the doctrines of men (Colossians 2:8). Just because something is popular, it doesn’t mean that it is correct. I have found the exact opposite; the more popular, the worse it is.
You can’t read good sounding Christian junk and expect it to replace renewing your mind with the truth. In fact, you have to know the truth first, in order not to be taken captive by good sounding junk (Ephesians 4:13-14). Check those verses.
If I told you that there isn’t one Christian book by any popular Christian author that has the Gospel in it, you would think I was crazy. However, renew your mind with the pure Word of God, out loud, everyday for the next few years and then contact me. You wouldn’t believe all the denominational based garbage, which makes the Word void and powerless (1 Corinthians 1:17-18, Matthew 15:6), and we wonder why few people are healed. Check it.
Why am I so confident? Look at these verses. This is God’s position.
Proverbs 30:5-6
5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. 6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. NKJV
1 Corinthians 4:6
Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. NKJV
Do not add to His Words! Do you see that in Proverbs 30:5-6 above? 1 Corinthians 4:6 says don’t even think beyond what is written. What does that mean to you? There is not a single thing outside of what is written in your Bible that you need to know. No, not one thing. That’s what it means, and therefore, we can use what is written in order to identify those whom God has sent (John 3:34, Jeremiah 23:22).
John 3:34-35
34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. NKJV
Jeremiah 23:22
22 But if they had stood in My counsel, And had caused My people to hear My words, Then they would have turned them from their evil way And from the evil of their doings. NKJV
Anyone who wants to help you will speak God’s Words and according to God’s Words. Liars cannot possibly speak in line with what is written. They can’t do it. So as you read something, even this article, take away anything that is figured, or assumed, or man-made and hold on to whatever is proven by a verse (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Therefore, as you read you need to strip away anything that is beyond what is written, such as the word “trinity” or “rapture,” or “personal relationship,” which are not in your Bible, and do not skip areas of scripture, such as the doctrine of Jesus (John ch14 thru ch17). I can see using words to describe something, but when it gets to the point to where that man-made word replaces scripture, then there is a definite problem.
So now, what are God’s instructions again. “Do not think beyond what is written” (1 Corinthians 4:6, above). Why would someone ask you if you believe in the “trinity” as if that is written in your Bible rather than asking about, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, if they knew 1 Corinthians 4:6? Right, they can’t speak according to what is written so they have to come up with something else.
I know churches that will kick you out if you do not confess the trinity here in the south. Imagine that. That means if you do not hold to the traditions of men, they will kick you out. How can they even remotely have any idea what the righteousness of faith requires (Romans 10:6-8).
Romans 10:6-9
6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?'” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “‘Who will descend into the abyss?'” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach). NKJV
Who is righteous by faith and who isn’t according to the Word of the Lord written above? Do we have to be careful to speak in line with the faith or not? Come on! The righteousness of faith is a part of the Gospel (Romans 1:16-17). However, you probably won’t hear about it in any church here in the Bible belt. Again, go figure. These things have been happening for so long that they are almost totally lost, even in the best of churches.
I use to pray and ask how people could seek to enter the Kingdom, but not be able. When the Lord first revealed these things to me, I was so shocked. I knew we were in the rebellion, the great falling away (2 Thessalonians 2:3), and what are we falling away from? The Word of God. It’s an amazing thing to see people everywhere in the church who will not make it, even though they seek to make it (Luke 13:22-28).
Luke 13:23-29
23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. NKJV
That is so sad, but not to worry, since in the new Heaven the things of old will not be remembered, nor come to mind (Isaiah 65:17). Lord willing there is still time! Turn your TV off! Take the phone off the hook for most of the day. Pick your Bible up and read the New Testament out loud!
If you cannot tell me how to know Jesus, or your answer doesn’t sound like Ephesians 4:20-24, 1 John 2:3, and John 14:21-23, then I’m talking to you! No, personal relationship is not in there. You may have been in church for twenty years, but I’m telling you there isn’t a church left that preaches a complete Gospel. No not one, and especially those on TV or radio. We are that far gone already.
Get this! Worldly wisdom takes away from the power already contained in the Word (1 Corinthians 1:17-18). The more you fill yourself with man-made philosophy the worse you will be (Colossians 2:8). Our instructions are, “do not add to the Word,” and “do not think beyond what is written.” Millions speak directly against the faith every week from the pulpit. They receive just enough signs and wonders in order to remain where they are because they have rejected the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:9-15). Check it below.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
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. NKJV
Who is going to send the delusion and why? All will be condemned who did not believe the truth; all (verse 12 above). You don’t have to believe me, but do you believe the verses I have posted? Are you a believer, or do you dodge certain areas of the Bible because it doesn’t fit “your faith?”
You have got to accept and believe what is written. It’s not optional. Therefore, you have got to read your Bible and replace any false doctrines you have accepted in your mind. You can’t read a Sunday school lesson, and expect it to be a substitute for renewing your mind with the truth. Open your Bible and start reading from the New Testament out loud. I suggest James, 1 Peter, and 1 John over and over every day for about a month. I suggest the book of John for new converts. If you have questions, just ask. I serve for free.
Read the pure Word itself, and if you read a book or an article like this one, ignore anything that doesn’t have a verse to back it up. Ask questions in the areas you don’t understand and ask for a verse to back up everything you are told. You do not need anything beyond what is already written in your Bible (Proverbs 30:5-6, 1 Corinthians 4:6). Everything we need for this life is already in the Bible (2 Peter 1:3-4).
Anytime someone teaches you something that isn’t written or that is twisted you can be sure that they want you to follow them (Acts 20:29-32). They are making their own disciples. Most anyone will show you a verse or two, but they go way off track in their interpretations. Ask for verses that prove everything that is said.
Be leery of anyone who tries to impress you with Greek or Hebrew as if they are “not” using a translation themselves. You don’t need know what the original Greek said because if you are not talking to someone who was born 2000 years ago, then they too are using just another translation like the one in your hand; your Bible.
I can tell you that the New King James Bible works just like it is written, and I don’t have to dodge particular sections or verses because it all fits together. I’m Alan Ballou; a servant. If you have questions or concerns please leave a reply below.
