Greetings Brethren, friends and neighbors,

I am pleased to share with you a recent response to a Brother’s concern over the apparent disparity in his local Church. Except for our Bother’s name, it was not necessary to mention others by name in this testimony as the relevancy is within the message itself. I certify that this letter was written while in the Spirit and it is clearly not a man that speaks but “Spirit of truth” which is in me that speaks. I encourage all who seek affirmation that you judge, test and measure all that is written by His Word and not your own opinion. I offer this exchange this way so that I may demonstrate a valid point regarding obedience and submission to Him who purchased the lives of His followers.

The truth is self evident.  Enjoy…

Dear Andre,

Greetings! I was pleased to finally hear from you my friend! I’m sorry to hear about your computer virus. We have a saying around our household when it comes to such distractions, “The devil is always in the plans.” It is easy to understand when you know that he will always be trying to “wear down” and “distract” and “sift” us because the last thing he wants is that we make any headway with the call to duty and the “Great Commission.” It can be frustrating but when you know what his objective is and understand that he is allowed to “test” us so that we may learn to “endure” and grow in our faith, then it becomes easier to accept after a while because you learn that we are to become stronger, more capable and learn obedience by the suffering we must undergo. It really is no different than what Christ and His disciples had to undergo, in fact, it is the very same indeed!

Hebrews 5:8-9 “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”

You had stated, “However I felt the Lord wanted me to make a stand this time and not just leave as I've done quite a few times before because of some unbiblical doctrines.” I rejoiced at this comment because I have heard the Spirit speak thus the same to me on many occasions. It is usually followed by a word like, “Be faithful as I am faithful to you.” You went on to say, “However it didn't matter what Scripture I gave them in regard to point out there error... Their mindset just could not be changed...and I am absolutely stumped by it.”

I have witnessed much the same from so many and here is why we are always coming up against this seemingly benign opposition; Those to whom we give the Spirit’s utterance cannot hear the Word spoken because for them that are deaf, they have not yet made the connection with God because they still have not truly repented for all their worldly ways. They often times appear to know the Word and do but what they think they know is purely from the stance of “head knowledge.” Many people (Christians) claim they know but are unable to demonstrate understanding or hearing because they still fail to apply themselves to the simplicity of Christ’s teachings. So many in today’s world of contemporary Christianity are making the fatal error of adding too and creating more rules and precepts that only rob us from the very freedom Jesus affords us. In the process they become hard of hearing and lack a great deal of understanding simply because they practice another form of man’s religion rather than learning to walk by “Faith” aka “Trust in God.” The fruit of their walk eventually becomes a sour testimony and it is revealed they lack the “good fruit of wisdom.” Unless one takes it upon himself to follow in the pattern of Christ shown to us they will not achieve the wisdom promised. Proverbs clearly points this out in the following;

Proverbs 4:1-13 “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For, I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.  Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goes, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

Then Jesus being the fulfillment was recorded as saying, John 8:25-32 “Then said they unto him, who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spoke to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, when ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spoke these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Herein is the point, those who refuse you and the message you bear also refuse the witness and testimony of God’s lesser brethren. If they refuse the prophetic words and warning of God’s messengers sent then they are infact refusing the One who sent you! Watch closely now for you may witness some degree of calamity and stumbling as is usually the case for those who refuse to accept the Word that Christ’s messenger’s bear. God’s messengers are always sent to warn and give reproof so that certain peoples may turn away (repent) and avoid degrees of punishment, discipline or even wrath in extreme cases. Don’t believe anyone if they try to tell you that the gifts of God are not alive and active today. Jesus promised us regarding these latter times;

Matthew 23:34-36 “Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zechariahs son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.”

Congratulations André! It would appear to me that you have indeed stepped out of darkness and into the light of God’s Word. You have begun to truly taste the torn flesh and shed blood of Christ our Lord. Please do not think that it will ever be much different. You are promised suffering of this type and I encourage you to be ever faithful and obedient to ALL of Christ’s teachings and commands. As you grow and continue to apply yourself accordingly you will be sent out to handle even greater tasks. Each time you are sent another test is revealed and you will continually be tried and tested over and over again. I am every bit as baffled as you were in the response you received from the these “hirelings.” Suffice to say that what you witnessed was no different than what the eternal and unchanging Word of God thus established. Please allow the Word as we have it describe and explain all the disparity you witness and you will see with increasing clarity that the Word of God is the ABSOLUTE and by itself is pure and blameless in its judgment of us. Do you feel like the old log jams have cleared in your eyes and now you are beginning to see with new eyes that perceive? That’s how I describe the process I underwent and if you stay the course and waiver not… there is likely much more in store for you indeed. Hallelujah! I feel like I found another brother of the same faith. Can you say thus the same? Let us rejoice and give thanks to God for this because it is rare that any of us can say we stepped across the threshold and became aware of what and who we actually are!

John 6:51-58 “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eats of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, how can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For, my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed. He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats of this bread shall live for ever.”

Please take note that Jesus is not talking about communion crackers and grape juice! This passage is specific in that it directly tells us to take on the selfless life that Jesus thus demonstrated! The wine (drink) is indeed symbolic of His shed blood and the bread is that which symbolizes His broken body. But we don’t inherit eternal salvation by continuing to practice vain rituals which are at best only a copy of the eternal things of Christ’s Kingdom. In plain words, we are to LIVE it out as opposed to ACT it out. One form is like a movie, script or play and another is the reality of life here on earth today.

If I attempted to answer all the deficiency in this Pastor’s response to you it would end up being a repeat of a book which I have already written, “Apostasy Revealed.” If you are compelled to order a copy for yourself, I want you to know that this book is my witness and testimony of many “like” interactions you have just encountered. It also happens to be what I consider the fruit of what salvation should look like. Are we not merely called to be faithful witnesses and thus continue to carry on with the works that Christ thus established? That really is how simple I view the “Great Commission.” We have been so indoctrinated by mainstream Christianity and so few are they that will open the Word and see for themselves what a great contrast today’s Churches are as compared to the earliest recorded gatherings in Acts. Far too many people are they that will actually read the “Bible” for themselves. It is so much easier to “go to church” and listen to a “man” speak his own interpretation. Do you know anyone out there that is aware that “we” are the Church and “body” of Christ? If anyone discerns that then would it not stand to reason that where we go… the church goes because both the Father and Son have made their dwelling within us by way of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God? If we are the Temple of the Father’s Spirit then why do we continue to keep building more temples and call them houses of God? I thought the Temple was shaken and the veil was torn? Why do we keep denying the affirmation and exhortation given us in the Book of Hebrews?

Hebrews 9:8-10 “The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.”

Hebrews 8:7-13 “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:  And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decays and waxes old is ready to vanish away.”

Hebrews 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

And then therefore the main point is this; Hebrews 9:11 “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;”

This therefore is the example we are all to follow if we dare call ourselves Christians! The first time that word Christian was used, it was a slur spoken against the disciples in the city of Antioch. So therefore then if we call ourselves Christian then we must consider ourselves disciples. Anything less than that cannot be considered more than mere believer. There are many believers who declare Christ as Lord but few are they who step up to the plate and engage in the battle at hand. That is the real battle that is taking place on earth and in heaven and I don’t know about you Andre but I hear the mortar rounds hitting the hillside every day. The battle which rages is a real battle but most are asleep and apathetic towards what is going on around them. I think they really are asleep and perhaps we are dwelling in the land of the living dead. What do you think? I would love to hear from you after you’ve had a spell to digest my potent response to the reality which is surrounding us all.

One last thing before I close this weighty letter, remember what Jesus said about the “brotherhood.” This is vitally important as you must learn to practice discernment and be very cautious before engaging in close fellowship and making others or referring to them as brothers. Please heed this warning and trust what Jesus described.

Matthew 7:21 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 12:50 “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” 1 Corinthians 5:10-13 “Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within?  But them that are without God judges. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Meet the Author

Cephas Ministry, Inc. is hosting a “Meet the Author” event at the Lake Bernadette Community Center located at 5410 Golf Links Blvd. Zephyrhills, Florida on Saturday November 22^nd from 1pm to 3pm. Coffee, Tea and cookies will be provided for participants.

THIS MEETING WAS CANCELLED BY THE COMMUNITY CENTER CDD STATE RUN BOARD AUTHORITIES

Particulars of the event: This was a private event by a member of the community who pays EXTRA OVER $800 ANNUAL taxes plus association fees for privileges in the community center and paid a deposit to hold a private event. This community center is public for parties for people from out of town. It is the only place where parking is allowed in the whole project. There is no parking allowed in the streets which prevent a homeowner from doing anything in his or her home that involves any visitors.

"Those of you who still have faith in the system have yet to experience it.

If you are not outraged by now then you must not be paying attention." (Author unknown)

Nicholas A. Stivers, a widowed single parent and author of a newly published book, “Apostasy Revealed,” will be on hand with books and answers to many questions regarding the disparaging decline of fundamental Christian values in many of today’s Churches and popular ecumenical organizations.

Additionally, Nicholas would like to address his concerns with the community at large over the breakdown of discipline, respect and obedience within the town’s local teenage population. Nicholas brought two of his three teenage children with him from Tacoma, Washington in September of this year when he moved out here to Zephyrhills, accepting a ministry assignment with Cephas Ministry, Inc. a non-profit international website ministry reaching out to hundreds of thousands in our world community.

Nicholas recently conveyed his concerns in a letter to over 30 local churches in Zephyrhills. “Since the time we arrived, I have been buried in despair over the emotional health and condition of the town’s teenage majority. The kids in town appear to have unlimited access to an abundant supply of recreational drugs like the ever popular “Ecstasy” and sexual encounters are the most popular topic of conversation next to “getting high” with this town’s local teens. Is anybody aware? Does anybody care?”

Nicholas views these problems as mere symptoms of a larger problem growing to epidemic proportions. Extreme sensuality and increased drug abuse are signs of a deeper neglect taking place within our homes, schools and churches across the country. The children are being left out or ignored and they are seeking to fill internal voids with “fellowship on the streets,” in the bedrooms and on the TV with often sexually elicit and violent video games. While this is often allowed in the households, the teens are gravitating to these places where they can live out their fantasies and often times take out their own frustrations in “kill, murder, destroy” video games.

Florida State law only mandates teenage sex as a crime with children 15 years and younger. Unbeknownst to many it appears that the kids view this as a license to practice illicit sexual encounters and those whom are participating in these activities seem to be absent of any moral discipline or structure in the homes where they are being raised. The children and parents are being brainwashed and conditioned by the increasing liberality of today’s media and social/economic agendas in America’s educational system. The fruit of this is a society largely brainwashed having become complacent and apathetic towards the epidemic of moral decay in our contemporary culture. I am not suggesting new laws or legislation but instead calling for a return to God’s fundamental principles of “Faith in Christ.” Christians are called to be faithful witnesses yet our witness seems to have become an offense to the Gospel of “Christ crucified.” What can be done and where do we turn? Seating is limited so don’t delay; call us today to make free reservations at (813) 788-7422.

With all love and sincerity for the truth, your faithful brother in Christ,

Nicholas A. Stivers, a humbled man, scribe and messenger.

Author: “Apostasy Revealed” ISBN: 1-928602-92-4

We sincerely apologize for this event being cancelled as this matter was decided upon by the “Establishment” which is by clear definition, opposed to anything having anything to do with our Lord and his perfect will.

Psalms 118:6-8 “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?  The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”