Greetings brethren, friends and neighbors,

I bid you all peace, unto your households and upon those with whom you gather. I am grateful for the opportunity to defend the faith, which I have in the living GOD and Jesus the Christ. I wish to express my gratitude to those of you who take the necessary time to write and respond to my unwavering "Word of Exhortation". It shows me that some of you truly care indeed and are suffering with me as we prepare for the last and final day of our torment on earth. We all (those who are sanctified) shall finally be delivered from the worst of God's wrath upon all His enemies on a day not so far from our present time.

I wish to share with you an opinion of a very dear and close friend of mine. He expressed himself after reading the last scroll I submitted (Scroll no. 15) and following his excerpt is my God-fearing response. You will see that I am partial to no one and I take the commission GOD has granted me very seriously. Whether you are a friend, neighbor or brother, it does not matter to me what you think. What matters more to me rather than your personal favor is that I am obedient to my Master, selfless in my application and that my words are always "seasoned with grace." Life has been hard yet in all my pain and suffering by walking as my Lord commands, my heart has been softened towards Him.

My beloved friend Kelsey writes: “People are looking for authenticity. If people want to read scriptures then they'll get a bible. You use these scriptures as though they were your very own words. Let's remember who is God! Give self-testimonies from your heart. Share your personal pain, fears and desires. People want to identify. In my opinion, people can't identify with your scrolls unless they are at your level. It's way to deep and it bores the average person especially, those that have no point of reference about your topic.

"Send your stuff to scholars and astute pastors. I'm not bored. I can identify. I understand your passion. Nobody will understand your passion unless you share whom Nick Stivers is and where you came from. You need to send a message with every scroll. How lost you were and successful you were until you got slammed in the face with life! How God became your refuge and opened your eyes to the mockery of today's Christians".

The Spirit in me responded with the following: "I appreciate what you've said as it is what you have said again and again over the years. But before you get carried away with your thoughts, take a look at what others are saying and then ask yourself if it is I who really needs to change my approach? Then ask yourself what really establishes credibility or authenticity as you put it? Is the Word of GOD not my judge and Christ not the pattern I should be following?"

My loving and compassionate partner in this Ministry, Rita, came to my defense and replied in part to Kelsey stating: "Well, do you think God is interested in a congregation that can't stand the Word as it is written? If they can't stand the Word, they can't stand Jesus Christ whose name is the Word of God. The Word is and the Word was God, the Word became flesh and we are representatives of the Word in flesh because Jesus at this point sits at the right hand of the Father.

"We have to make the sacrifice of letting Nicholas be who he is, which isn't easy, in fact it is a pain but I love God more than myself and will let God be God and His will be my will. So be it."

1 Timothy 4:6-7 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine."

I included a recent letter from Sister Brenda who wrote: "Oh man of God how precious you are in our Lords eyes. For the Lord your God is truly your Father and He calls you a precious son. For He cries when you cry. He is stirred to anger when you are angry and He rejoices when you rejoice. You are a true servant and the cloak you wear is the cloak of humility, do not discount your robe for it covers you well. For the man that receives his reward on earth will shed many tears in heaven and the man and the man who sheds his tears on earth will rejoice in heaven, for your rewards are stored up and he has received all the reward he will ever see.
See yourself as God sees you, as Peter when he walked down the streets of Jerusalem. For as he walked his shadow did indeed heal many that it passed over but know this, his shadow was not cast before him it was cast behind! He did not see the sick healed before his eyes but heard them healed behind his back. You see his eyes were protected from pride as God has protected you! Hear what the healed say as you pass near, their thanks being lifted up feel their comfort and know that they were blessed!
They're many things that you will not see until you reach Him. So never question the results. Because you can't measure results in the Spirit, they are immeasurable! Just keep pressing forward and know, by these words that you are accomplishing more than you are allowed to see!
Bless you and your shadow!"
Just another servant,
Your sister in Christ
Sister Brenda

"Kelsey, my mailbox and forum is full of letters like these as well as the letters of hate and dissension (from the religious minded). The Spirit or spirits one walks with either agree or disagree with God's Holy Spirit and unction. Now I ask you... what kind of spirit wants to change the behavior and or testimony and relevant witness of a man filled with God's Holy Spirit who exhibits the same traits and character of God's Holy Spirit as outlined in Scripture? Does Scripture not tell us plainly?

John 16:7-11 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter (God's Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you. And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged."
And then Jesus declared something very peculiar and strange about the Holy Spirit (Comforter). John 16:12-14 "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you."

"What I am attempting to say plainly here Kelsey is that the world is full of non believers... as opposed to believers. If they truly believed as I believed then there would be a whole lot less advise giving, excuses, complaining and all such non-sense and more caution, heeding and listening to what God's living Spirit is speaking through His chosen wise men, scribes and messengers of today who are the contemporary disciples of the living GOD - Christ Jesus.

"Jesus proclaimed that He would send... Matthew 23:34 "Therefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: some of them shall ye kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city:"

"You've said on several occasions in the past that you think you know me but I tell you plainly that you know me not. If you did truly know me (the man that I have become in Christ) then you would not argue with me, a man who speaks by STRONG conviction the living WORD of God; that is, the very utterance of God's Spirit. Jesus dealt with this same kind of disbelief and suspicion and it was those who were once closest to Him that thought they knew who He really was. The problem is quite simple actually. When a man's paradigm shifts because of God's divine interaction and intercession, the man changes and becomes a new creature but others do not easily recognize unless they too were changed by a paradigm shift. He who was/is begotten of GOD is/has become a new creature and by the power and authority of Christ, overcomes the world and all such worldliness.

1 John 5:2-4 "Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith."

"John's testimony proves this out and makes it clear that we either recognize the Spirit of Truth and truthfully acknowledge each other as brothers of the same faith or we are different creatures of a sort... some having been transformed and others still not yet being able to see clearly. Though it may be summed up as a lack of faith as Jesus pointed out again and again... Pride is the real culprit (as I pointed out in Scroll 15). Pride is only a superficial facade acting, as a blanket to cover a person's many fears and doubts. I tell you truly Kelsey whether you like it or not... the pride of man must be destroyed so that the hidden fears and doubts can be exposed in him and be more quickly dealt with (healed of) thereby releasing one's own bondage to self. The Bible calls this dying to self and I just revealed to you the manner in which this is accomplished.

"My friend and brother, the Word I gave you above is by the authority of Christ and God's Holy Spirit in me and is not by any interpretation of my own accord. When I say, "by His authority," then what I exhort or write in this proper context is not open for debate nor is it refutable. Why, you may ask? Simply because God's WORD and His Holy and divine Spirit which gives utterance is not to be argued with, changed or squelched in any way.

"I do love you and because I love you... I must honor you and I know no better way to honor you whom I love than to deal with you in truth. As hard as it may be from time to time... I speak in love (unwavering commitment) and always with the very best motive driving me to aid you in your understanding and acceptance of the true redeeming sacrificial gift bestowed upon mankind by Christ being crucified.

"If you truly understood me then you might better understand that when Jesus entered in through the true tabernacle not built by the hands of men (See Hebrews), He entered first so that all who truly follow Him will enter in by the very same narrow gate He left open for us. If you truly understood me, you would also see and understand that salvation (true redemption) is not open to any that still live by and practice the written law and copy outdated patterns of religious worship and atonement. The Book of Hebrews makes it quite clear, the way into the Holy place is not disclosed to those whose tabernacle is still standing. Hebrews 9:8 "the Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holy place hath not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is yet standing..."

"I live according to the Spirit (of truth). I see according to the Spirit (of truth). I hear according to the Spirit (of truth). I walk by faith (trust) according to the Spirit (of truth). I obey the very pattern that Christ established and that which God's Spirit discloses being confirmed by God's Word and the historical pattern of reliable first hand witnesses; namely, His Disciples. I am a subject. I became a disciple. He gifted me to be a scribe and a prophetic messenger. He is my Master. Christ Jesus IS MY LORD. Like it or not, I am what He has created me to be which in part is the result of my truly living out the very Word of God. It is not a religion but is more a Government in which to abide. For me, it is a way of life and one I shall never forsake."

For those of you still looking for a "Good Church"

Sister Juli wrote me a letter not long ago and was very disturbed by what she was witnessing within the contemporary churches. She is particularly upset over the "Once Saved, Always Saved" lies and heresy still being preached in many congregations and worse, believed by millions! Juli confesses, "To be honest, I don't know how I first came across your website. Although now I am beginning to realize it was under the guidance of the Holy Spirit."

I responded to her awakening cry for help and fellowship!

Shalom Juli and to all whom are paying attention,

Glad to hear that you are still hungering and thirsting. Would it help you if I confessed that all of us without "good churches" still hunger and thirst for the fellowship we once had in our favorite congregations?

A strange thing happened when I opened your recent email. I had the opportunity to read it twice before some arbitrary program erased it right out of my protected email box. It happened when I hit the reply button and a notice came up saying your message was no longer in the system! I think someone other than our loving Lord is attempting to keep us from fellowshipping and communicating by email. Though I don't have a copy of your most recent letter anymore, I do remember your line of questioning and will attempt to address it here. You were asking if the Presbyterians and SBC were the only adherents to the OSAS doctrines and you made it clear that you were looking for the kind of Church a God fearing or Spirit filled man (prophet, wise man, scribe) would find fellowship.

Unfortunately, because of the dynamics and inter-workings of contemporary churches in the "Western world," finding such a church is a grievous task. Why? Simply because most people gravitate to hearing the preacher speak moreso than reading the Word for themselves to test and measure what is spoken. Jesus made it pretty clear that many would come in His name and say all kinds of things falsely on account of Him. If most of the "hearers" are not "readers" how then will they be able to differentiate, discern or test between what are true versus what are false? In almost all the Churches of man, people are encouraged to go out and preach the Word as faithful servants. But what happens is that the Word being preached is not tested by the Word itself and so many end up going out to be faithful witnesses of their local churches and their preachers rather than faithful witnesses to Christ Jesus. When doctrines are perverted or falsely preached, the members of these local churches take that false teaching out into their neighborhoods, communities and work places and the errant teaching spreads like a virus or plague. That's why the churches of man have gone astray from the fundamental teachings and application of total surrender and selfless living that Jesus patterned. Most people today don't want to suffer or accept "letting go" of the things in their lives that comfort and shelter them from the disturbing realities surrounding us.

The other dynamic involved is that what is being "heard" becomes a kind of "head knowledge" rather than something being lived out, tried and tested. I have written and exhorted many times before, "What good is it when the "teacher" cannot himself demonstrate and apply what he or she is teaching?" A witness is someone who by acceptance of what they learned is able to demonstrate and apply his understanding thereby showing others the way. That is precisely what Jesus taught and demonstrated and thereby became a living witness of "God in flesh." That is also how the early disciples and Apostles applied their faith. So, where does that lead us you may ask?

The answer to your question is found in my very latest Scroll published, "The Difference between man's church and God's Church." At first you feel like you are all alone and without fellowship but eventually one should discover that he or she actually does have fellowship in the Word and with those who are fully surrendered and submitted to the Word as a way of life. I cannot recommend or suggest a "good church" Juli because I have yet to find one for myself and instead did what Jesus commanded of our surrendered lives... I chose to become part of His Church and my fellowship is truly with the Saints who did the same. We are the living Church (living witnesses) of the Living God in which God desires to glorify Himself. We are the very temple place for His dwelling and all His works and what we do by faith also becomes our participation in His true Church.

I might suggest that you have already been guided and led to a likeness of His true Church by discovering Cephas Ministry and the fellowship we are here to offer. That is not to say that they're are not others out there in small pockets doing what I do in a slightly different context. I am certain that there is but instead of "looking for a good church" you might just surrender yourself to becoming the Church and God will bring to you opportunity day after day to minister to various needs and that will be according to the measure of gifts and grace poured out on you! I already see good signs of you achieving that potential because your eyes are opening up to the darker realities surrounding you. Your direction will come by way of the Word and the “Spirit of truth,” which Jesus said, "is the Word." Take courage dear one and recognize the fuller potential and calling that awaits you.

Men like myself doing what I do are lightly regarded and most often rejected by the mainstream because we are about application and obedience to the pattern of Christ instead of the pattern of man's works. We struggle financially because few give to help support the causes we try to minister to and quite often we are turned away when seeking shelter or fellowship unless we sign and submit to denominational partiality. Therefore I strongly recommend that you avoid denominational alliances and support those whose Church is without a name and constitution other than the name of Christ Jesus and Him crucified. Yes, you will suffer to varying degrees but in the process, you will be made stronger and become more useful to God. Simplify your life and focus all your attention on doing God's bidding and He will see fit that you have enough to live a humble and reasonable life while you minister to the needs of others. You will in the process become useful and effective for God and He is likely to glorify and magnify Himself in your calling.

Take another look again at Pastor Buddy Smith's letter to David Cloud re-published on my latest Scroll. It speaks the truth and should provide you with comfort. Pastor Buddy Smith from Grace Baptist Church in Malanda, Queensland, Australia can be reached at the email address smiles@tpg.com.au.  Though he is or was a Baptist Preacher, he has tasted the good Word and understands the kind of fellowship we should desire. Men like him and David Cloud, also a fundamental Baptist, expend their energies and Spirit towards ministering to those who flock in religious congregations. Their field is a missionary field and they are fulfilling their callings by being faithful to God first in all things. In their case, they understood that instead of finding a good Church, they were to become the Church of those who are faithful to Christ Jesus. The authority by which they speak is the same authority by which the Apostles spoke and that is by the indwelling Holy Spirit of God which keeps them faithful in their surrendered condition and gives them the necessary utterance to minister God to others who are still hungering and thirsting for the righteousness of God. This is also the same authority by which I am sent to write and exhort the deep and penetrating Word of God. The greater joy and inexpressible peace that is spoken of in New Testament Scripture comes to you in abundance when you begin fulfilling your God given destiny. Keep His Word in your life and He will keep you.

The OSAS enigma has infiltrated all levels of man's understanding and the only thing that will break it and shatter it to pieces is when the faithful called stewards of God's Word step forward, resolving to make a difference and become the Church of the Living God that they are called to be. If you read my book, Apostasy Revealed, that is the bottom line message to the reader when he or she discovers the true apostasy. This is where the rubber hits the road where a person decides to heed Paul's warning to the Corinthians and make a separation from the "so-called" brethren and their temples of false worship. Those who keep God's Word are well kept.

I hope and pray that this email reaches you as I am not sure if this email address is still valid. I also hope that I have answered your questions and concerns and that God will shower you with His abundant mercies and empowering grace to "take a stand and resolve to make a difference in an otherwise indifferent world."

I seriously rebuked that pabulum of "Once Saved - Always Saved" a couple years ago and have been exhorting against it for many years before I came on board with Cephas. That is one of the easier lies to detect and one does not have to ponder too long on the implications of such a doctrine totally wiping out faithfulness in the "Church." That little culprit has been responsible for more unbelief than other notorious fads that seem to have come and gone but sadly still linger in the hearts and minds of sinners who remain unrepentant. Therein is the problem with such unbiblical precepts, believing such does not allow the believer's heart to become convicted in transgression as it should and therefore averts the believer from a necessary repentance and humble surrender to God's Word and will. People who believe such are always justifying their sin rather than employing God's empowering grace to overcome their sin. You see, it becomes a vicious cycle of never being able to become cleansed and make headway in one's relationship with God. If a person believes that he/she is already saved then he/she is not motivated to "work out their salvation with fear and trembling."

Faith is ever moving and not necessarily some event that took place in the past. Many people who declare themselves "once saved - always saved" believe they were saved back on some date in some church X-number of years ago. But when you talk with these folks who believe this way, you discover that all they really experienced was a confession at the time and believed the preacher when he said, "Now you are saved forever." What a crock and actually.... It's a lie from the deepest depths of hell because many believers never get to that empowering moment of time when they fully surrendered and truly made Jesus their Lord. Most of the time, the motivation came from the preachers' condemning sermon and people respond selfishly because after vivid pictures of hell and torment are painted in the hearers mind, the last thing they want for themselves is to land in eternal damnation. So the choice many make at that time is a selfish choice as opposed to a selfless choice.

My Master spoke and gave me this parable to share with you...

What salvation looks like and the fruit it bears...

There was a terrible auto accident and a family of four was all terribly injured. Dad was driving and Mom was in the passenger side and the two kids were in the back seat playing cards. The vehicle lost traction on wet pavement and swerved off the road hitting a large tree on the passenger side of the car. A "Good Samaritan" stops along side the road after witnessing the accident and calls 911 on her cell phone. Several police cars and ambulance aid units rush to the scene. The victims were carried swiftly back to the city; the children were taken to the Children's hospital and the kid's parents were taken to the trauma ward at Good Samaritan Hospital. The mother dies upon arrival at the hospital and the man was in ICU for three days with head injuries in a comatose state. The two kids faired much better but were being held for observation at the children's hospital across the street. After three days, the Dad came out of his coma and learned that his wife had died but the children were doing ok and he would be with them soon.

During his recovery time at the hospital, the man mourned the loss of his wife and started praying to God the best way he could; by simply talking to God. The man was so distraught over the loss of his wife that he could not bare the heartache and pain and he started thinking about suicide. He didn't want to carry on in life without his wife of 13 years and was ready to die. [This is keynote, must be willing to die to self] In fact, he was wishing they all had died together and just as he was contemplating his death, a vision of a beautiful person glowing bright stood before him and had his hands on each one of his children standing beside him. The man spoke and said, "These are your children. They love you and they need you. Who will take care of them if you should die now?" The Dad cried out "Jesus, save me from this torment and pain. I can't bear it! I need you Lord and I can't do this on my own. Please forgive me Lord for it should have been me who died and not my wife. Help me Lord and forgive me for I am the one worthy of death!" The man in the vision took hold of the Dad and embraced him and said, "Son, your work is not yet done. They need you and you need them and I need all of you to witness to others my saving grace." The Dad was soaked in his own tears and the vision soon departed him. The tears were no longer of deep sorrow and despair but of deep gratitude and a renewed commitment to carry on and do what a father is given to do, to raise his children and teach them the love of Christ.

Just then, the hospital room door opened and the man's two kids come running in to greet their father. They were full of joy that Dad was alright and after a few moments of composure adjusting, Dad began to speak to his children about Mommy and he expressed hope to the kids that Mommy was likely in a better place now where she could rest until the day when Jesus comes back to take us to the home He's been long preparing for us in heaven. Though the sadness took a while to subside, a new hope was planted into each of their hearts and the Dad humbly gave thanks each day for his life and the lives of his children. He was steadfast in his discipline of the kids and they learned about God together by studying the Word of God as a family and applying themselves to Jesus' teachings. Each day on the way to school and in the evening at mealtime, they prayed together as a family giving thanks and asking God, 'what is thy will?' This man understood that salvation was a duty and responsibility and it had little to do with selfish gain but had everything to do with selfless sacrifice. Here was a man "saved" for God's work, purpose and pleasure... for the sake of God's Kingdom and righteousness. He and his children became living witnesses and testimonies of a living God. He who has an ear to hear, let him understand.

The above is a parable account based on a true story... Nicholas A. Stivers

You see, there is a type of salvation that is part of our witness but it is to glorify God first and in the process, we become glorified with Him because He uses us according to His purpose and not our own. In order for that to be real, you have to be willing to die to self and surrender unto Christ seeking to be useful. The way to tell them apart is to look at their lives. Are they selfish always taking about personal needs, wants and gains or are they selfless, always grieving and praying for others and feeling helpless without God to make a difference in other people's lives. Look at it this way and your discernment will increase exponentially!


In Other News on the International Scene!

Do you want photographic evidence of the "mark of man and beast?" Take a gander at this, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/pix/2005/53638.htm
Is it not becoming more and more clear to you that we are not off our rockers? Are there any out there right now who receive these Scrolls and Exhortations still swimming in unbelief? Do you still support this socio-religious political charade?  Is the Jesus you worship the same one whom I serve and worship? When you give (tithe), why are so many giving their money to fund and support the enemies of GOD and their illicit works and programs? Why are all the ambassadors of heresy gaining money, power and prestige while we (the God-fearing) continue to be held back and ignored by the many who are chasing after the lure of worldly prosperity and purpose? Do you love this world? You cannot love what this world has become if you say you love GOD! Since when did grace come without sincere repentance?

Those who love this world have made themselves enemies of GOD. James 4:4 "Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God."

1 John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

1 October 2005
THE JEWISH TEMPLE
Ancient findings unearthed in Israel

Israel has unveiled an underground archaeological site near a disputed Jerusalem Holy shrine, nearly a decade after the opening of an exhibit in the same area that sparked widespread Palestinian rioting. The latest discovery included a ritual bath or 'mivka', from the period of the second Jewish Temple, which was destroyed in 70 CE, and a wall that archaeologists say dates to the first Jewish Temple that was destroyed in 586 BCE. The findings strengthen Jewish ties to the shrine which is also claimed by Muslims.
Israel has been conducting archaeological digs near the Western Wall since it captured East Jerusalem and its Old City in 1967's Mid East War. The digs are infuriating Palestinians and the Islamic Trust that oversees the Mosque complex that now sits on the mountain that once held the Biblical Temples. The shrine, which is adjacent to the Western Wall, is one of the most sensitive in the Mid East conflict, and has often been the catalyst of Israeli-Palestinian fighting. Both Israel and the Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital.
Meanwhile, in the same area, a First Temple period seal was discovered amongst the piles of rubble. The small seal impression, or bulla, is less than 1cm and was discovered by Bar-Ilan University Archaeologist Dr. Gabriel Barkay. The Temple Mount discovery would mark the first time that a written artifact was found from the Temple Mount dating back to the First Temple period. The 2,600 year-old artifact, with three lines in ancient Hebrew, was discovered in a pile of discarded rubble by a team of young archaeologists and volunteers that were sifting on the grounds of a Jerusalem national park.
The seal, which predates the destruction of the First Jewish temple in 586 BCE, was presented at an archaeological conference in the City of David. Barkay said that the find was the first of its kind from the time of King David.
Dr. Barkay has not yet determined what the writing is on the seal, although there are three Hebrew letters inscribed onto the seal that are thought to be the name of its owner, that are visible on one of the lines. The seal was found among thousands of tons of rubble discarded by Wakf officials at city garbage dumps six years ago.
After the Antiquities Authority voiced disinterest in thoroughly sifting through the rubble discarded by the Wakf, Dr. Barkay received a license from the Antiquities Authority to sort through the piles of earth thrown into the garbage dump in search of antiquities, and has since found scores of history-rich artifacts from the First Temple Period up to and including a large amount of pottery dating from the Bronze Age.

Sources: The Jerusalem Post, The Guardian (27 September 2005)

Taking R eal  U nderstanding  T o  H eart

James 2:5 "Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?"

The primary reasons why so many are deceived and easily led astray is because Americans are taught to take pride in self. Americans are perceived by much of the world to be rich and prosperous. The other cultures not offended by America's perceived wealth are drawn to be more like westerners and seek to adopt the ways of our western culture. Yet, it is because Americans as a whole want for more security and wealth, because they desire prosperity as the elite has acquired, they replace their greater need for GOD with the desire to be comforted with the security of financial success. They perceive that surrounding oneself with all the comforts and security of wealth and mammon is how one is able to live the so-called "good life." The many who flock to various divided congregations of western Christianity see how the upper middle class lives and this is inviting to those who have lived with so little and have struggled so much all their lives. The preachers are promising great returns if their gathered flocks remain diligent in their tithing efforts. Unbeknownst to many in the gatherings, the preachers are getting "fat" off the hearers who are in attendance thereby showing the wrong example to so many. In the long run, the GOD whom we cannot see was replaced by a powerful vice that can be seen. Now, millions upon millions are being led down a broad highway of destruction for their god is their appetite and so many have become as ravenous wolves. In a nutshell, the selfless gospel was replaced with a selfish gospel. Woe is America and all her profiteers and adulterers and idolaters. Woe is America the harlot for she has made herself to look like the harlot who rides upon the back of the beast. Her bones are destined to be crushed and put asunder by the hooves of another beast. Mark my words people, the unrepentant shall not go unpunished.

Therefore, hearken your ears unto the truth and accept the judgments of GOD upon this Nation and the unrepentant who have for a nickel and a dime, traded their divine inheritance for nothing more than a bowl of porridge and temporary satisfaction. Take real understanding to heart and be saved from the worst of GOD's wrath!

So that you may see how I apply myself accordingly and live by the judgments GOD makes in our lives, I wish to share with you a letter I wrote recently to a man calling himself Deacon John Williams. Deacon John Williams sent me a letter indicating that he wished to donate to Cephas Ministry and asked where he might send monies. Of course, I was skeptical because 99.99% of all such offers that come to me are bogus and interlaced with hidden agenda. From time to time, when the letter does not look like one of the hundreds of bogus form letters I receive from the UK and African countries, I will engage in conversation to test the subject and see if his heart and intent is sincere. Brethren, I have yet to see any fruit born of these illicit schemes.

After giving the man my mailing address, he promptly sent me a package via Federal Express containing an envelope with $7000.00 in Master Card Traveler's Cheques. Each Traveler's Cheque was for the sum of $500.00. His only request was that I take part of that money after making deposit to my own account and wire transfer good monies to another Christian Ministry in England. Needless to say, my discernment is strong and I smelled something rotten in the UK.

I promptly contacted the Master Card verification Dept. in Canada and asked for assistance in determining whether or not the security features were legitimate on these Travelers's Cheques. They seemed to have the appropriate watermark (incidentally of a Greek goddess) and they're were all the normal features of a legitimate note except two. These Cheques were forgeries and the two tell-tales were the absence of raised print around the boarders and middle logo as well as the serial number being incomplete and printed in a style of font inconsistent with the rest of the lettering and numbering on the Cheque. The verification department also informed me that if I could not rub color off the note onto a white piece of paper it was definitely a forgery.

Happy that my discernment is still well intact, I promptly wrote Deacon John Williams a letter as he was anxiously awaiting my confirmation of receipt.

September 29, 2005

Deacon John Williams,
Did you really think that you could fool me, a truly GOD fearing man? Please tell me John how you can call yourself a Deacon when you are directly involved in money laundering and fraudulent counterfeit schemes designed to dupe God fearing, Christian Americans into cashing stolen/counterfeit Money Orders, Cashier's Cheques and Traveler's Cheques? You are no Deacon and neither are you a true Christian! Are you a terrorist or connected with a terrorist organization funding illegal schemes to financially support terrorist activities? Or perhaps you are just a greedy corrupt man who has no moral fiber and you prey on innocent victims who fall into your sordid schemes and affairs? Which is it John? What are you? You certainly are no brother of mine!

I investigated the legitimacy of the 14 Travelers Cheques received from you in the supposed amount of US $7000.00. As I suspected, these are counterfeit Traveler's Cheques and lack all the necessary security features built into valid and legitimate MasterCard Traveler's Cheques. You are a disgrace to me and most certainly to the GOD whom I worship and serve. I pray that your sordid affairs and illegal money laundering schemes become exposed and you are caught red handed in your sinful ways. You would be so fortunate if they locked you up in prison for the rest of your life giving you plenty of time to consider your crimes and the opportunity to repent from your vile transgression against innocent people. I pray that no one who is innocent falls victim to your sordid schemes and that others will use the discernment God grants to figure you out before they are victimized by others like you. May GOD shower you with rains of humility and may your life become a ruin of vanity in all your attempts to take advantage of unwary. Lord, I pray in the name of Christ Jesus that this man be stopped and that you reward his evil deeds with a right and just recompense for all the evil he has done. I beseech you Lord to grant as I pray in the name of Christ Jesus - AMEN Repent John Williams (or whoever you are) before it is too late!

Needless to say, I was upset but not for reasons, which may seem obvious to you. I am upset because I know that hundreds if not thousands of otherwise innocent people are being victimized by these sordid schemes which are largely born out of African countries and you better believe that any support or help they get goes to fund and support real oppression and terrorism. The other thing that causes me grave concern and utter disappointment is the fact that nobody really seems to care enough to give at all. We receive well over a million hits a month. Our website materials and resources are being used to near capacity on the servers and the workload and demands are such that we are drowning in your requests… But we get no help or assistance from the multitudes calling themselves Christian. I hear from many that sound like they support our cause but they can't even afford to buy a copy of my book. I hear from many more whom are angry with me (us) because of our strong and unwavering stance for proper biblical and Christ-like application. I can still count on one hand the number of faithful participants (God fearing brothers and sisters) who give occasionally and without expectation. There are others in the past that have come and gone because their giving came with an expectation of rendering personal service and we were unable to forsake our duty to the greater multitude for the sake of one selfish desire, so, we lost them as participants.

I guess my refusal to fleece you and pound you with condemning guilt and make false promises is the reason why no-one will give. I guess many who have ears are not being tickled with selfish glory and false hope, so they don't believe a Ministry like ours is worth keeping alive or supporting. I surmise that most don't give a damn and would rather be comforted by the hirelings who tell them what they want to hear. I guess many can't stand the TRUTH bearers because "THEY CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!" If this is all true then they just can't Take Real Understanding To Heart.

While sitting at my desk pondering the strength of the word I had just written, my Father spoke to me and whispered in my ear, "If you were from this world, the world would recognize you and adore you. But you are no longer of this world because I chose you out of the world to serve as a son to me. Therefore know that you are mine and the world hates you because you no longer adore the temporal."

I was struck and remembered a familiar ring to the words. I found confirmation in the Book of John and knew once again that I am in my Father's hands and should not trouble myself over the indifference of so many. John 15:19 "If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."

My Prayer for You

My prayer for all who participate with us at Cephas Ministry is that you will join me in this quest to take a stand against all that man has done to water down and make void the immeasurable grace of GOD. Remember that you have but a very short time on earth and you should not squander away the opportunities that God has afforded you. For some of you, you have been given second chances and various wake-up calls to turn about and serve GOD willingly with all your heart, strength and soul. I earnestly desire that you remember the widows and the orphans and aid those whom are struck down in travail. Preach the gospel of repentance and redemption through Christ crucified but avoid copying the age old religious formulas. For I encourage you to imitate Christ and the holiness He exhibited. Remember the brethren and those of us who are called out to do a difficult task in an unbelieving world. Remember that it is the responsibility of the true Church of Christ (all who are truly gathered in His Name) to equip and provide for the called ones and saints who to this day are suffering for Christ's sake in bringing the real gospel to you. Pray for us as we remember you night and day and continue to prayerfully intercede on your behalf. Do not neglect the children of your household for I tell you as GOD is my witness, He is pouring out an immeasurable grace and discernment upon the youth of today and there is a great polarization now taking place across this Nation and around the world. While the darkness increases and evil is making its advances, the righteous ones are beginning to take a stand and make a real difference. Be a part of the solution and make a difference brethren and avoid the indifference and apathy so many are afflicted with. For all the losses and painful hits you may endure in your steadfast approach to upholding Christ Jesus as Lord, your reward shall be greater with Him who calls you from out of darkness into light. Only He is worthy to be obeyed. Listen to Him! AMEN

Spoken, written and given by the authority of Christ in me.

Your faithful and God fearing servant and brother in Christ,

Nicholas A. Stivers