Coming Out from Under Them

My early days of making a separation

Remembering a time when I was still budding in the true faith but had not yet departed from the mainstream. I was associated with a couple different "singles ministries" from two different churches in

. Being an avid sailor for a number of years, I encouraged a weekend retreat to Blake Island with the two ministry groups and later a sailing regatta off Browns Point. As most mainstream singles groups are, they were into finding fun activities for lonely singles and intermixing the activities with their version of godly fellowship. On the one occasion to Browns Point, I had arranged for three men in my marina that were part of either Church group and owned their own sailboats, to join us and we would picnic at the park and then shuttle out to the three sailboats to go sailing on the bay for fun and relaxation. The three of us who owned sailboats were experienced sailors and our vessels were sound craft. The day was beautiful and the weather was almost perfect for just such an event but we still needed wind. When the BBQ food was ready to eat, we all gathered together, joined hands and I led the prayer. We gave thanks of course and because I was concerned that we had no wind, I prayerfully requested that God grant us just enough to fill our sails and that it would be a sign for us that He is faithful to us who are being faithful in our fellowships.

The Associate Pastor from Christ's Church, Jim Lowe, was at the picnic and acted as a chaperone for the single adults. After our lunch, he brought out these "liability waivers" and told each of us that we had to sign these indemnity contracts before any of us could go sailing. When Jim pulled these forms out to be signed, everyone took one and began passing out pens to sign. I read the form and then raised my profound objection to Jim before many ears.

I asked, "What is the purpose of this form Jim?"

He answered, "To protect the church from any possible liability claims in the event of an accident. Its standard procedure Nick, don't worry about it."

I exhorted, "What business do we have with signing oaths and contracts that would give your church permission to be excused from involvement or liability in this "church sanctioned event?" Are you not all here for a day of fun and relaxation? Is our trust centered on anal contracts (Terms and Conditions) centered on liability fears or do we have faith in God? If we have put our trust in God, why are we saying contractually that others involved (Captains of sailboats) are not already held accountable? Does not God hold us each accountable if our faith is in Him? Are we not all Christians here or are we pretenders who fear what may or may not happen or fear that the church may be sued? Do we place our trust on Insurance Liability waivers or have we put our trust on God's ASSURANCE?"

Jim replied, "I've never had anyone object before Nick."

I said, "Well, its about time we start taking the gospel seriously and acting like the men and women of faith we claim to be. Don't you think? I hate how litigious this society has become. Everyone has people signing away their freedoms and there is no room for forgiveness anymore. Even married couples are getting involved with "pre-nuptial agreements," what does that say about people's faith in God regarding the covenant of marriage? Do we allow the courts of law to regulate our lives or have we put our lives in God's hands?"

At that point, all but one person laid down their forms and pens and said "Amen!" The one person, who did sign the form said, "I'm going to sign just in case." At that point, the wind we needed and prayed for came up like a gust from the breath of God's nostrils and we all went out to sail. The wind was an answer to our group prayer earlier and also a sign that I was being faithful in that moment and describing God's best will for how we should lead our lives in this context. I tell you truly, that one event provided us some real dynamic conversation while out sailing on the bay that day. From that day forward, no one ever tried to push an indemnity contract on me again. Instead, they just objected to any further retreats and refused to allow the singles to participate with future outdoor activities including other sailing events I wanted to host. In fact, they even ceased in the annual summertime Church sponsored picnics because of liability fears. See how what has become of our society? Isn't it a shame that the leadership of these two churches didn't recognize the prophetic moment and realize that mans' many fears are because he lacks the appropriate measure of faith?

Sadly, most are not receiving the kind of gospel remedy they should be getting from their local pastors and ministry fellowships. My door is wide open and so is my web ministry. There are a great many questions already answered, problems common with the mainstream apostasy already addressed and you will find them in the format of "Scrolls" like this one and "Exhortations" archived at http://nicholasscrolls.cephasministry.com.  Many of these writings are the fruit and result of many inquiries sent to me over the last few years and often times, my personal letters end up becoming the foundational sermons I deliver in Scroll and Exhortation format. Please don't hesitate to check them out to see if some of what you are looking for is not already addressed. I am also the author of "Apostasy Revealed" and that may be a book you would be interested in ordering for your fellowships. Cephas Ministry has also archived a bunch of my radio programs (also available on audiocassette) and a couple strong video presentations that really drive home the message Christ wants us to hear... He is the pattern we are to follow and doing so is the path we are to take. That is the simplicity of the gospel of Christ crucified and the reality is supposed to be our practical application thereof.

Another Retreat: The Lies of Generational Sin

While with the same group of singles during those early years, I had many occasions to partake in various "retreats." Another such retreat was during the early Spring when Northwest Church had arranged for a mountain retreat up in the Cascade Mountain range near Leavenworth . There were a great many more singles attending this particular retreat, most coming from the Northwest Church fellowships. The backdrop was beautiful as the lodge we stayed in was situated on a plateau with deep snow all around us. The heavily laden snow covered evergreens surrounding us and the majestic snow covered mountaintops above us inspired much poetic praise and verse, which I scribed in a journal in those early days. To say the place was stunning would not do this pristine wilderness justice. It was truly a place to separate oneself from the normal stresses of our everyday lives.

Associate Pastor Les Dames was chaperoning on this particular retreat and it is his sermon on “generational sin” which I contended with the first evening of our encampment. As Pastor Les spoke to the crowd of nearly 120 singles gathered, he began to seduce the hearers into believing that because sin is inherit in our nature, the Church needed to take a more active roll in protecting us from ourselves by instituting more rules, Church regulations, do's and don'ts. Apparently, it had come to the Pastor's attention that undisciplined - pre-marital sexual activity was a growing problem among single adults within the Church and it was the Church's position that more rules and laws were needed to protect us from what many adult singles were falling victim to.

Pastor Les proceeded to cite scripture from the Old Testament in an effort to convince all who were in attendance that the sin many were unable to overcome in their lives was the direct result of a generational curse imposed upon us from the sins of our immediate family's generations. Many were moved to tears and buying into the lie that Pastor Les, (a well paid hireling), was preaching. Before long I heard murmuring in the crowd accusing parents and uncles of the dastardly sexual acts committed against individuals during childhood who were refusing to take responsibility for their own poor choices they had made in their adult lives. I can see a few legitimate persons being victimized by adults in their youth but the whole crowd? Something was amiss here and my Spirit was disturbed by the emotional out-cries accusing others and placing blame elsewhere. Of course, among us were single mom's who had given birth to children out of wedlock and to hear their testimonies, it was always the guy's fault and each played the role of victim rather than accepting responsibility for their own part. I was finally moved to speak and the whole assembly fell deadly quiet.

I stood to my feet with trembling in my knees and publicly rebuked Pastor Les for his mishandling of the scriptural teachings. I spoke boldly that we as a body don't need more rules and laws telling us not to touch, taste or handle but that Christ afforded us a freedom and sense of duty and responsibility in our salvation to take serious the lessons of our past and avoid repeating age old patterns of sin. I further stated that generational sin was not the problem here at all because God holds each and every believer accountable for his own choices. We are no longer under the curse of the old law, which was for the rebellious Jews, but now are under the "law of grace."

I said, "If God had not allowed me the freedom to walk and go where I wished and learn by my own poor choices and mistakes, then I would not be the Godfearing man that I am today. It is because God has given us the ability to reason and test out things in our lives that maturity and growth are possible. If I were long ago in subjection to law upon law and impossible ordinances then I would lack wisdom because I would have never had the opportunity to experience the fruits of poor choice and bad behavior. The recompense upon us is because God chastens us for our good and we won't understand what is good by merely applying to a stringent set of rules without reason or understanding. The grace afforded us on the cross empowers us to overcome the various temptations that face us all but laws do not keep those temptations at bay. We as learning creatures need to understand the consequences of why we shouldn't do this or that and choose for ourselves what is right and just according to the pattern and teachings of our Lord and Savior. God Almighty holds each of us accountable by His laws of grace and we are no longer under the judgment and condemnation of the old Jewish laws."

At that point, there was a standing ovation and applause and the mood changed among the crowd. Apparently, the rebuke was effective but it had consequences with it. When Pastor Les attempted to respond to my prophetic utterance, he had trouble speaking. It appeared he was loosing his voice and decided to take a 20-minute recess. I then approached him personally with my Bible open to the Old Testament Word, which confirmed what I had said. While drinking a hot tea and lemon juice, he listen to me cite the following:

Ezekiel 18:3-32 "As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in . Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sins, it shall die. But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right. And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbor's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD. If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things. And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbor’s wife, Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination, Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? He shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.  Now, lo, if he beget a son, that sees all his father's sins which he hath done, and considers, and doeth not such like, That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbor's wife, Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withheld the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment, That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity. Yet say ye, Why? Doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sins, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? Saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of ; is not my way equal? Are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Yet saith the house of , The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of , are not my ways equal? Are not your ways unequal? Therefore I will judge you, O house of , every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.  Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of ? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."

After that recitation, Pastor Les was made completely speechless and could not speak aloud anymore that evening. Though he acknowledged with a whisper that my rebuke seemed prophetic and appropriate, he said he would pray about the matter further and await confirmation. I didn't have the heart to tell him that his voice was made mute because of the lies he was preaching but hoped that God would reveal the matter to him. It became clear after this and a couple of other encounters that four-day weekend that I was there to do battle with the enemies of my Lord. Many singles spoke privately with me afterwards that evening and expressed their appreciation for my boldness and unswerving faith in God's Word. Many more encounters and similar incidents like these are what led to my ultimate expulsion and rejection by the established Church I once attended. I am thankful that I am not the only one who had made that departure for there were other men who also left that Church over time but many more who stayed and continued to struggle with the charismatic lies and heresies they were being fed. Among those that stayed, I was considered an enemy of the cross and an accuser of the brethren. This is a true testimony and one that bears witness of the Spirit that dwells within me.

A Time of Death, Preparation and Spiritual Growth

A dear sister in Christ recently wrote responding to my letter regarding the changes taking place in her once Baptist Church . She realized that people are indeed choosing a different gospel for the one that Jesus offered on the cross.

I loved how she summarized coming out of the church being "a time of death and preparation and spiritual growth." That is exactly what started happening to me in the late 90's culminating with an empowering display and birth of "a new creature." I remember feeling like I was impregnated with something very new and discernment was a gift that took a while for me to become accustomed to. I felt like I might be going down the wrong path but there were very strong indications confirmed in the Word that I was walking in obedience where few are willing to travel. Separation was a necessity in order to gain closer relationship with the Father and He assured me that His Word would confirm all things and I need not look to anything else in order to judge with a righteous judgment.

God revealed to me that judgment was a matter already settled regarding man's heart, works and desires. He also showed me clearly that conviction was from the Holy Spirit and learning how to respond to it would be the catalyst in forming my new being. I began to excel in growth and matured in many areas as He helped me to overcome many obstacles while gaining deep insights. Wisdom became a friend - See Proverbs 4. He showed me the differences between judgment and condemnation, guilt and conviction, selfish motives vs. selfless purpose. After so much confirmation through His Word, I gained my trust in Him, His voice and ultimately, His Word. Then one day while kneeled down over the marina docks hammering away on new boards I was replacing, The Spirit in me said, "I want you to venture out and find your brethren (brothers and sisters). I want you to encourage fellowship and help restore their broken hearts for many are being deceived and are grieving. So many have already been led astray. Do not worry about where you will go for I will send you and some I will bring your way. Do not worry for what you will say for I will give you my Word to speak and you will speak life into them that their hope may not be deferred. Ready yourself for great change is on the horizon. Prepare them for a great gathering as your time draws near."

As time passed on, I saw with different eyes and discerned things that would make one's hair turn gray. He later said to me while still on that same job, "You are as a sword is to a brave warrior. You have become a son to me and it pleases me." Then just prior to publishing the first seventeen exhortations in my book entitled, "Apostasy Revealed," He gave me one of the most profound utterances I have heard to date. It went as follows... "You are in the last hours, even moments of the second day and soon the morning of the third day will dawn. What happens on the morning of the third day oh son of man?" I was numb for a while and then took courage to open my Bible. The pages fell open to Hosea and my eyes lit directly on Hosea 6:1-3. It was then I knew for certain He was making me a messenger and the gifts He gave me would support that calling.

So, here I am today by divine providence doing what my Lord beckons trying to be as faithful as I know how but always concerned over my application and obedience. This concern has never departed me and lends credence to why "we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling" and also taught me what it is like to evolve into a "Godfearing" man. New creature indeed!

I want to thank all of you for expressing your revelations and understanding of God's expectation as evidenced in Scripture. Perhaps we agree to some degree but I address the issues of suffering as symptomatic and oftentimes necessary for maturity and growth. For the most part, there is a universal invitation for all that suffer to approach and embrace the grace that was afforded us on the cross by Christ. Essentially, one kind of suffering is replaced by another but we are not left without the power (grace) to overcome and be victorious in the end.

I exhort each one of you to please be mindful that you cannot accept one part of the scriptural message and throw out other portions merely because you disagree with the implications (suffering) of relentless rebellion towards God. Suffering is most often precipitated by our own rebellious nature which often times leads us to seeking self glory rather than learning to be selfless towards our fellow man. The main reason why the Christian camps are still very much divided today are because of the selfish nature of man promoting pride and the refusal to let go of selfish pursuits. Prejudice is still a strong emotion in humans and that limits the ability of many to see similarities between differing human cultures. Imbalanced hatreds are the fruits of ignorance.

What Jesus patterned for humanity does have a universal application but in order to embrace it fully, one must be willing to distinguish between human (worldly) wisdom and divine eternal wisdom. To embrace the divine nature of God we are exhorted in the New Testament Scriptures to become like the Son of God so that we too may become legitimate sons of God as opposed to illegitimate children to God. Obedience and love are synomonyous as defined by the whole of God's Word and the absence of obedience warrants stern discipline in our lives delivered by God. In this context, a genuine love is an unwavering commitment to truth, justice, faith (trust in God) and hope. An unwavering commitment to following the pattern of "God's only Son" is demonstrating your "trust in God's offering and example" and so becomes the obedience expected of those who truly believe. This then is what defines and establishes the true context of your "love" for God and should naturally be exhibited in all your behavior towards your fellow man. So discipline which also causes suffering is for our good and not for our condemnation. The contextually correct application here is rendered in the English as "sanctification" which literally means to "set one's pathway straight."

What many of you have described in your earlier days was abuse which led to feelings of guilt brought on by the heavy weight of condemning sermons and beliefs delivered by others. You often times questioned the suffering in peoples lives and perhaps your own out of context. If you were feeling condemned at any time, perhaps you were confusing the deeper feelings of conviction, which the Spirit of God puts in us to set our pathways straight. Conviction leads to increased awareness and wisdom bearing or leading to the fruit of love and obedience. Condemnation on the other hand leads to guilt and many hidden fears and ultimately leaves one feeling hopeless and utterly depressed. This however does not diminish the need for Godfearing men to deliver warning and recompense to others who are not obeying the pattern of behaviors exhibited by Christ and His maturing disciples. Maturity is KEY here.

Reproof and rebuke are absolutely necessary because humanity is still very immature and selfish. Mankind is still full of pride and prejudice and these enmities need to be killed off. I understand what many of you experienced earlier in life because I too shared like experiences within the realm of man's religious institution called the church. In my growth over the years I have discovered what is commonly referred to as the Church (whether Catholic or Protestant) is not really the Church described for us by Christ and witnessed by the early Apostles. Man still builds temples in which to worship putting on the pale face (image) of weak systems of belief. But in the midst of all the divided houses of god (developed by hirelings), God Almighty pulls out certain ones to continue the work that Jesus patterned for us so that humanity can one day ultimately arrive at a real Godfearing maturity. These men and women are the disciples of the risen Lord - Christ Jesus. These Godfearing creatures (men and women) are the ones mostly identified by mainstream shepherds as apostate and dangerous. Why? Because we reject the religious formulas that man continues to divise and reap great material wealth from and remain steadfast to the only trustworthy pattern of behavior and teaching we have in Christ Jesus and His Word. We who understand this and submit to that are the disciples that were called and though our numbers are few by comparison to the reported two billion Christians on earth, we continue to pattern and witness the true gospel of Christ crucified and we still to this day suffer a great deal by it because the "religious elite" still do not recognize the truly Spirit filled members of Christ's body - THE CHURCH.

I have discovered that what is indicated in the New Testament Word by Jesus, the promises and the warnings of various hatreds and persecutions, are all true and indeed come to pass for the individuals that surrender and submit to the pattern and teachings of Christ Jesus. Fulfillment takes place and we begin to realize that these various fulfillments are proof and confirmation that we are indeed on the "right path of sanctification." In simple words, it is often not "pretty" and it won't look any different in a person’s life than what Jesus described and promised... that is... if you are on the prescribed path.

Today's Gentile Christian Pastors, Priests, Bishops and Preachers are not much different that the Jewish Pharisee's and Saducee's of 2000 years ago. They still practice partiality and carry with them deep bitterness and resentment and so many have decided to live "fat" off the people who gather to hear them boast of their great knowledge. Elitism is alive and well today and I tell you truly - is as much hated by God TODAY as it was when Jesus delivered His strong rebukes two millennia ago. That leads me to the last critical aspect of God's fullest definition of love. True love as defined by the whole of scripture cannot be made complete without also embracing God's hatreds. This is crucial and fundamental to us in the maturing process. We cannot afford to be found loving or embracing what God so hates. His list of hatreds is short and simple and made clear in the Old Testament Proverbs and also Christ's New Testament teachings.

"The hour is now upon us and the exhortation given me by the command of my Lord is a simple call to repentance and a serious appeal for maturity. You can do nothing of your own accords without the power of God's Spirit. But be mindful there is only one Holy Spirit and many many fallen ones who influence, distract, contradict, promote pride and justify self. These are your enemies and enemies of the cross of Christ. It is my sincere hope and desire that each one of you whom I sent this letter will respond personally via an email and give me your thoughts. Some of you are struggling with me and others I have not heard from in a long while. I would like to know that the many years of devoted discipleship and obedience to my Lord exhorting and pleading the utterances of God have not been in vain. The hour is short and the dawning of the third day is sooner than you realize. Make a complete and total separation from man's religious falsehoods and cancerous apostasy. The system and character of the beast has been revealed through me and my brethren of like faith and mind. It has come to my attention by way of God's whispering voice that the one for whom the apostate system of false religion was developed will soon be revealed and suffering on this planet will increase to a level never before witnessed by man. The most faithful will be spared the worst of tribulation but many will undergo a great deal more suffering before being saved because of their long history of selfish and rebellious behaviors towards God. He, who has an ear, let him hear and understand this warning. Yea, though the night is long - the morning is short." So declares the Spirit in me.

Those are just a few of my more intimate encounters. Many more are recorded throughout my Scrolls and Exhortations and in my book, which recorded the beginning of this new relationship. It bears witness to those with ears to hear and eyes to see among the others I have witnessed to. I am still a bit frail and stumble from time to time because God has shown me that though we can still occasionally sin - it is not purposed because we don't necessarily know our sin until God reveals it to us. When sin is revealed as sin - it is then we are held accountable. His Word says clearly, those who practice righteousness are righteous but are still undergoing the process of sanctification, that is, the setting straight of our pathways. His Word confirms it. All credit and praise goes to Him for I was worthy of nothing but He called and I responded... with some degree of fear while in a great deal of pain. Brokeness does have its rewards when one reaches out to the only one who can save. Praise God indeed!

I welcome all of you who have recently joined with us at Cephas Ministry and the Nicholas Scrolls. I welcome you and your whole family. It was my hope long ago when I connected with Rita Williams at Cephas Ministry that a worthy and relevant fellowship would grow from the ministry to which I am called. I am overjoyed for your love and participation and hope that we all may continue to grow and mature in the things of God as we put aside the childish things we learned and were long conditioned by. There is work to be done, as the harvest is ripe. I strongly sense a polarization taking place that must indicate a separation of the wheat and tares. Our time does indeed draw near for we are about upon the morning of the third day since Christ's death and resurrection. We will see much between now and then and we need to help prepare others for this time but God reminds me... only a few will hear us and respond. Progress seems to be all too slow but He is in charge and will deliver the ones He chooses to have mercy upon. We need to stand ready to minister to them as they make their departure from the mainstream and begin to follow the narrow path. God is with us.

We cannot put our trust in man but our trust (faith) should be solely directed towards God. I don't even trust myself! In light of that let me just say that I desire no man to follow me but encourage men to accompany me. I am no leader and believe all our eyes should be fixed on Christ - His Word and pattern and not mankind. If those who desire to accompany me are with me on that narrow path then I know I will have fellowship and brothers of accountability. You can trust that I will do for each, as I desire them to do for me.

Accountability and humility are two main ingredients of love (unwavering commitment) that are lacking today. Though many misunderstand me to be lacking humility - they don't understand that love and humility is first given and practiced towards God before we can share and express the same for our fellow man. After we are thus chastened by God and corrected of our ways, we begin to walk uprightly before God and our fellow man. Thus, the man who overcomes a thing is better able to show and demonstrate a better way and is thereby qualified to rebuke, reprove and admonish the error of his fellow men. One must walk righteously before others can verifiably witness a true pattern of righteous behavior. What good is a "teacher" of anything if that teacher cannot properly demonstrate and show what he is teaching? Should anyone be a teacher if all he has is knowledge? Knowledge puffs up and demonstrates arrogant qualities by itself but when knowledge is applied and demonstrated then wisdom can be achieved. If teachers in our educational system would follow that fundamental truth... we would have better teachers producing better educated critical thinkers in this country - would we not?

I have raised my children this way in the hopes that they will be the better able to assist my Lord in the great harvest. I have taken the responsibility of raising my children very seriously, as any parent should. In the process of doing so, God has taught me much about the relationship He desires with us as children. Wisdom is a comforting friend and it really does guard us against all present dangers. Let your home become a sanctuary as you reach out to others ministering the way God intended us to. Be cautious though because you don't want to leave your gates unguarded for it is your castle and should be always protected. Remember that you are the church as are others who are enjoined to Christ – being many parts of the body, we eventually become the bride. Be faithful and obedient to the things that our Father wills. His Son will always be the defining factor and the one to whom we can call upon. Our fidelity is everything in this beautiful marriage between God and man and His Spirit is what joins us together. AMEN

A couple recently wrote in and asked what kind of Church we were. I elaborated in a more contemporary context for them what Cephas Ministry stood for and what we actually labor to achieve. Cephas Ministry is among many things, a gathering of believers of like mind and faith striving to understand and apply ourselves to our Lord's gospel. As my dear and faithful partner in this ministry pointed out, we have made an utter separation from the "mainstream" religions of humanity recognizing that they have all fallen short and in many cases are divisive, partial and arrogant in their claims of stewardship in God's Kingdom. We in no way support denominationalism but instead recognize that the gospel of Christ crucified as being a call to hungering seekers for discipleship. We are for the most part, the bottom of the barrel among the realm of contemporary Christianity, rejected by empowered men and religious institution but accepted and empowered by the grace of God to befuddle the "so-called" wise and self righteous. God's Word proclaims this and promised that we who fully surrender our lives to Christ's selfless example and carry on with the Father's business as Godfearing sons and daughters put the elite to shame.

The elite have made themselves wealthy and have gotten very rich off the labor, sweat, tears and shed blood of the downcast and rejected of society. While religious empires continue to prosper in the mammon and wealth of the people seeking for material gain and prosperity, we continue to be rejected, cast out and persecuted by the many wolves devouring what little resource and freedom remains for us to worship our Lord in Spirit and Truth caring for the brethren and the contrite of heart. While the religious elite continue to manipulate the gospels to achieve personal gains and amass great wealth unto themselves using this great wealth as a measure of God's grace - we in turn show how great our faith is by letting go of worldly concerns, precepts, false doctrines and religious rituals recognizing that the pattern we are called to conform to is the selfless pattern of living and loving reproving and forgiving those who further oppress us and keep us downtrodden by their self-righteous ways. We are truly the sheep among many wolves and vipers within Christianity and we recognize that God's salvation is actually a duty and responsibility to walk like, think like, act like, fight like, love like sons and daughters to God the Father responding with great humility to the conviction that God Almighty places on our hearts.

Cephas Ministry is not a business venture to amass great wealth unto ourselves but is a relevant Godfearing Ministry devoted to exposing the truth that has been long hidden in dark places by religious arrogance and institutionalized Christianity. Rather than embracing the world and all it's worldly humanistic concepts, we reject it and refuse to embrace it. The true Church that is called of Christ Jesus was not called to become a part of the world but was literally called to be separate from it teaching, guiding and inspiring others to diligently pursue the spiritual things of God's Kingdom that remain forever eternal. Though we like others must get along in this world, we understand that among many things given and created by man, money is merely a tool and was never intended to be the goal or focus of achievement. It therefore is a means by which we might make progress but is never the goal. A job is not a career pursé but a place and opportunity to serve others. Wealth is not measured by how much one saves unto himself but is measured by how much one gives and shares of his own with others. Because of this, we remain ever balanced on the cusp of poverty (as measured by worldly standards) yet our needs are always met and are we rarely are found wanting.

We believe that what God freely shares with us should be freely shared with others thereby making charity (love) fruitful for many and giving us the opportunity to make friends with the unrighteous mammon of the world so that we may continue to witness the more abundant riches we possess of faith (trust), hope, justice and love (unwavering commitment). These are the richer things that we subscribe to towards achieving obedience thereby expressing genuine love for our neighbor, friends and brethren thus glorifying God. In a nutshell, we understand that if every living human being on the planet turned to the next closest human standing near and gave something of great value to the other... then everyone on the planet would receive something of great value. So, it is true that it is a Spirit of giving (selflessness) of oneself and not in receiving because if everyone gave of himself then everyone in turn would also receive and not be found in wanton.

The Holy Spirit that was given us as a promise abides in us and conviction accompanies its very presence. We are filled to the brim and overflowing so much so that we must freely share and impart to others the abundance of spiritual blessing God gives unto His disciples. The latter day Church in our day and age is beginning to receive the final warnings that God sends His angels and prophets to administer. There no longer remains an excuse for man's rebellion because the pattern and example was freely given us through Christ's selfless sacrifice. We are to abide and follow that pattern explicitly if we ever hope to see the Father and enter through the gates of Heaven. This is not achieved by our endless works and religious virtue but is achieved by fully surrendering our lives unto Christ recognizing that our lives have been purchased and our sins redeemed. It no longer is us who lives for God but God who lives and works in us and through us by the indwelling Spirit of God. This is the fruit of a genuine baptism - of dying to self and sin and being resurrected as new creature in Christ - human flesh filled with God's eternal Spirit. Such are we therefore that have been assigned various duties and administrations according to the irrevocable gifts God bestowed upon us to bring about the final fulfillment of God's prophetic promises according to His will and Word.

We are the body assigned to seek out and gather our brothers and sisters of the true faith and work together to bring other lost brethren (sheep) back into the fold because many have wandered and strayed and are being held captive by wolves in dens of doom. Our Lord's bidding is simple and all must come and heed the final warning. All men regardless of their position or stature must repent now lest sudden destruction befall them. Judgement begins with the household of God and the Father cries out... 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temples of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

Again, the Spirit in me says, "You are in the last hours, even moments of the second day and soon, the morning of the third day dawns. What awaits you oh son of man on the morning of the third day?"

I hope and pray all of you receive this well. We are not a church by contemporary standards but recognize our gathering and fellowshipping to be the members of the true body that is working in fellowship with the indwelling Spirit of God to do His bidding as the time of the Gentiles nears completion. The time is nearer than most realize. We will see it soon come to pass for God has promised and His Word has never failed us. Many men have failed to understand and comprehend but I tell you now, as God is my witness, the time is very short indeed.

Dear Mr. Roper,

Thank you for your letter of concern. Yours was unusual because it was the gentlest letter I've ever received from a confessed Mason. Your letter was remarkable because there were several observations I made about what you presented and your paradigm of understanding is very telling about what you do know and what you do not know. First, let it be said that what you understand truthfully - you will be held accountable for. Second, what you misunderstand because of Masonic influence thereby denying the grace afforded us on the cross will bring about not only stricter judgment on you but also come upon those who influenced you and maligned your thought processes and thinking.

My partner in this ministry commented on your letter: "What he doesn't realize is that Satan has maligned every holy icon and station in life. Mormons are Masons and they also hold the Melchizedek Priesthood. You see how he brings together the good and evil and make it okay because it sounds right on. That is what you do in a cult, you rationalize, you seem to know the truth yet don't get it or you wouldn't be a Mason. As an onlooker you wonder how a man can have such a keen understanding and yet remain in the most blasphemous organization under the heavens. He seems to take pride in being a Mason or he would not have mentioned it. Knowing the truth, God will be harder on him than on those who are blind because it is in outright defiance. Knowing that much about the Gospel, means he knows at least that much about Masonry."

Have you ever read "Morals and Dogma" by Albert Pike? That happens to be full of demonic representation and blasphemy and was written by a highly esteemed Mason! This book which is highly prized among Freemasons exalts the "illumined one" as the true god of light and salvation and denies that salvation is through Christ alone. There are a great many contradictions to scripture in this book as there are with the Book of Mormon when compared to the Holy Bible. Deception is most often very subtle and appears to be very compelling and alluring - that's why it is called deception. Most people equate evil spirits and/or entities, concepts, precepts etc. to be mean or angry and outwardly offensive, vile or vulgar. The truth is that evil wears a mask and is very subtle in its works and concepts making it often times appear to be righteous or in the case of fallen entities, appearing to be angels of light. But when held up against the unwavering eternal truth of God's Word and Christ's pattern, is judged and even condemned because it is exposed as being ultimately contradictory to the fundamental message of the gospel of Christ crucified. If this were not so, temptation would be easier to overcome because it would lack alluring qualities. I am afraid that you are terribly deceived and will point out some contrasts within your own letter to prove you have been deceived. Of course, it is not I that makes this judgment but the Word of God has so judged this and all of us. It is no healthier to mix goodness with evil than it is to mix dirt with water and drink of it. Both the physical and spiritual health of humans are dramatically affected by intermixing dogma and religious concepts.

Though you are right to point out the carnality of man polluting the churches, your reasoning is contradictory and denies the gift of God's Holy Spirit. You wrote, "If we're not careful, we take the word and make it flesh, make it carnal. We take it, read it, become zealous of our knowledge and we become the 3rd 6. That one falls squarely in the Holy of Holies." First, you misunderstand the last two sixes in the mark of man and beast. True, the first six is representative of man having been created on the sixth day "for his number is six" declares scripture. The repeating pattern of the numeral six is representative of that which man further creates having some power while pursuing dominion over the earth. Those other two sixes are representative of man's government and man's religion and they are in direct opposition to and in conflict with God's government and His Kingdom of faithful children. Let him who is wise..understand.

About taking the Word and making it flesh thereby making it carnal... though man does indeed still try to usurp God's authority thus making himself "god-like." It is however, the perfect will of God the Father to make the Word dwell in flesh after the very pattern established in His Son - Jesus the Christ. This is accomplished by receiving the Holy Spirit after genuine repentance and a forsaking of divisive religious and worldly concepts and resulting behaviors. The process of genuine repentance allows for the cleansing of confessed sinners who are ready and willing to die to the things of "self" to become cleaned out so to speak thus being prepared for the Holy Spirit of God to make its home within the newly cleaned out human hosts. This thereby describes the process of the Word becoming flesh and is still available to humanity today but is not readily seen through divisive religious cultures and institutions. Jesus promised that both He and the Father would make their dwelling within us and throughout scripture, it is repeatedly exhorted that we become the "new temples" in which God desires to habitate. It is of absolute necessity that we become a new creature in the process thereby allowing us to also enter in through the Holy of Holies after the established pattern of our Lord and Savior. "There is no other way to the Father but through Christ Jesus" - this we know to be true. The result then is God continuing to perform His works and the Father's will by and through the Holy Spirit indwelling willing human hosts. A truly born again believer no longer acts of his own accord alone but now is in subjection to and voluntary submission of God's leading, unction and Spirit driven direction. "It is no longer we who live but God who lives in us."

So, whether your religious paradigm is Masonic, Catholic or Protestant, Mormon or Baptist, is neither here nor there or of any consequence to one's salvation. Religion is purely and simply a "work of man" and is deficient in all its effort to please God because it remains defiled. Case in point is the false claim by some Masonic orders and the Catholic Papacy and also seen in Mormonism that the resulting priesthood is of the eternal order of Melchezidek. This again is utter blasphemy because the order of Melchezidek is an eternal order and did not have its beginnings in flesh. Melchezidek was neither born nor experienced death and later Christ inherited the order because of His great selfless sacrifice on behalf of humanity, which was otherwise condemned, to eternal damnation. We know by faith that Christ is not dead but lives and the Melchezidek priesthood belongs to no one else but Him alone. It is utter blasphemy to declare that man can somehow out-do Jesus and earn that place at the right hand of the Father. Religion cannot save you friend but faith (unwavering trust in God's Son) can and will save you from the pending eternal torment that awaits all who are judged guilty of "unbelief."

The fundamental difference between the precepts of man's religion and the faith we're supposed to have in God is contrasted in how a man conducts his affairs. In religion, man continues to usurp God's authority and takes it upon himself to conquer and have dominion over peoples (Nicolaitism) contrasted with the faithful who are found letting loose the carnal things of mans world and his government and attend themselves to serving the spiritual needs of God's creation. This can be evidenced in all the conflicts and wars throughout history that were waged in the name of God thereby becoming an example of what it looks like when man took Satan up on his offer of temptation that Jesus denied and overcame. When Jesus confessed to the Roman ruler that He indeed was King but His Kingdom was not of this world, He confessed that if it was - His followers would be fighting for Him. The lie of religion then is born from the opposer that promises great wealth and dominion over earthly kingdoms but Jesus refused that offer and rebuked Satan causing him to flee. There are evidenced degrees of influence and powers within the Masonic hierarchy just as they're are in the Vatican's hierarchy ultimately leading to "Grand Master" or the Pope. In Catholicism, the Pope is worshipped and revered as the "Holy See" and little attention or credit is given to Jesus as the "High Priest." Both, Catholicism and Freemasonry utilize symbology and employ secret orders with set agendas and various administrations to support carnal works and causes of mankind.

There is no such hierarchy evidenced in discipleship to Christ. That is the fundamental difference between what you believe and what I believe. All religious affiliation is divisive and partial (favoring some but denying others) yet discipleship to Christ is singularly directed. There is one God - one Lord and His followers, which He purchased and redeemed. Though some hierarchy is witnessed within the earliest recorded gatherings of disciples (early Christians) - authority within the true Church is neither abusive nor suppressive. Yet, the Masonic beginnings as well as their ties to the early Catholic Church are drenched in much spilt blood. Nowhere in the New Testament are we granted license to murder for any cause, righteous or not. If anything, we should be more like Christ and when our time arrives, we should willingly allow ourselves to be delivered up to various kings and magistrates and not worry for our lives on earth for we have already received the promise of eternal life. So, our lives should be about selfless sacrifice rather than sacrificing others for various causes. Man's religious history overflows with the spilled blood of human life and no matter the number of good works religious men have done in the name of their religion - all shall be condemned because they did not follow the simple and fundamental pattern of Christ Jesus and discipling after Him. There is a world of difference between Disciples of Christ and religious adherents. To one group, our Lord will say, "Well done..." and to other He will say, "Depart from me for I never knew you."

To answer your question, "Can Jesus get us back to the pre-fall state?" Yes, I believe He can and is but only a very few are able to enter through. The question you should be asking is why so few? The answer I offer is because so few are willing to lay down their own lives for humanity as Christ demonstrated (thus-no greater love does man know) and instead are still to this day taking up arms against one another causing mass genocide and all in the name of God. So many that ally themselves with political positioning and religious affiliation justifying war against others who oppose particular beliefs have been swept up in the enemy's snare. That's right where the opposer wanted them effectually denying the Son of God and essentially denying His sacrifice. Jesus said to His disciples that He was sending them out as sheep among the wolves. If you know anything, you know that a wolf is always stronger and more aggressive than a lamb and without the Shepherd's protection, the lamb gets eaten. Chew on that a while my friend and let your pride die. Feeding your pride and nurturing it will only ultimately lead you to a great and terrible fall. "Pride [always] commeth before a fall."

Lastly speaking of the knowledge that corrupts us... indeed, it seems this is the root source of all our troubles and the pride of man is inexorably linked to it. Scripture says that "knowledge puffs up..." and we know that knowledge apart from responsibility corrupts. The problem begins when man employs his gained knowledge for the pursuit of selfish causes. But responsible use of our knowledge can lead to the acquisition of wisdom. Therefore, wisdom can only be achieved when knowledge is applied responsibly and appropriately. If one listens carefully to Proverbs 4 in it's entire context, we can see where man has gone adrift - man has failed to listen and heed the Father's instruction and that was last given when He said directly to the disciples who witnessed the transfiguration, "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!" Our failure to listen and heed the Father's command and His Son's example is why we have a world filled with divisive religion and political oppression. There is only one way to be saved from the dark forces, powers and principalities of this world... that is simply to be as Christ was so that we may become sons and daughters to God and so that He may truly be our Lord. We are commanded to heed the scriptural remedy Paul gave to the Romans. Consider this carefully...

Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Need I say any more? Let the Word of God do what Jesus said it would accomplish. He said that it would judge us in the last day and we ought to allow for that everyday in our own lives first so that we too may be renewed and conformed to the likeness and fuller image of God's true sons and daughters. We are promised to be made new and be transformed so that we will prove what is the acceptable and perfect will of God as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. AMEN

With all sincerity and love for the truth and our scattered brethren abroad,

Nicholas A. Stivers, a humbled God fearing man, scribe and messenger.
Author; Apostasy Revealed published 2003 by Mountainview Publishing ISBN: 1-928602-92-4
http://nicholasscrolls.cephasministry.com
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