THEMES FOR THE WEEK:
By Trevor Davis
www.soundingthealarm.com

INDEX To THEMES FOR THE WEEK (Weekly Index for easy reference)


September 24, 2011
1. The Goat Herders:
Introduction: The Word of God. Ezekiel 44 The House of the LORD and its ways.

a. The LORD said, Israel was rebellious and full of abomination verse 6.

b. Eze 44:7 In that ye have brought [into my sanctuary] strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, [even] my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations

c. Eze 44:8 And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves

d. Ezekiel 44 should be studied and the parallel of the Apostate Church world and noted through the Holy Spirit.

e. Note that the leaders given the charge to lead Israel that had fallen into idolatry and sin were not released from their obligation to God. Next, they were not given the privilege of coming near to God since they had not sanctified the LORD. This---this is so important. We have so called ministers today that do not come into the presence of the Holy God. They are far from Him and His presence. They do not know the Lord yet they speak as if they do. But, regardless, they have chosen their delights and it was not in the Lord. This is what must be understood.

f. The priesthood of Zadok the righteous to lead the people into holiness before the LORD.
Eze 44:23 And they shall teach my people [the difference] between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

g. Contrast this from the silly Goat Churches of today and their milquetoast gospel, white-bread message, lack of God, lack of power and life, lack of the Spirit.

The Goat Herders:
A. There has been a long trend in the Christian World to placate to the world.

B. This trend has lost the message of the gospel for a white-bread gospel and a cross-less message.

C. The Goats are not followers of Jesus. They are not sheep of His pasture.

D. The Goat Herders are hirelings whose job it is to lead the goats in a make-believe church.

E. The Goat Churches are not of Jesus Christ but they are of the world.

F. The Goat Herders have not led the goats into repentance and faith in Jesus Christ by way of the cross.

G. Now, we have Goat Herder “pastors” such as Steve Furtick, openly stating “this church is not for you if you are a believer in Jesus Christ”.

H. Steve Furtick is obviously attempting to be coy and clever with his semantics of trying to “reach the lost” and having Christians join “the army of the Kingdom”. However, unless we wage war in the Kingdom of God according to the rules of the war we become illegitimate.

I. The “Church” of Jesus Christ has Jesus as its Head. The Church of Jesus is in submission to the Head and the Word, and the Spirit of God.

J. The Church of Jesus Christ is a body of believers not unbelievers.

L. The Church of Jesus Christ worships God in spirit and truth.

M. The true Church of Jesus is not an entertainment center or religious club.

N. The Goat Herders job is to create an institution whereby they are given accolades by man yet the rebuke of the LORD is upon them.

O. The Goat Herders disregard the holiness of God and tolerate the sensuality of the false prophetess Jezebel, who taught to eat things sacrificed to idols, commit fornication and trust in their own spiritual delusions.

P. The Goat Herders are blind. The goats are blind too. They are both of the world and speak of the world. Therefore, they do not have the love of God though they speak of Him from time to time.

Q. The Goat Churches use God and do not serve God.

R. Jesus will not receive any of these goats or the work of the Goat Herders. It is rejected, naked, poor, blind, miserable and reprobate concerning the faith.

S. Steve Furtick and his Goat Church, called “Elevation Church”, is one of thousands that is a work of man in the flesh.

T. “T” for Tares. There has been a long time agenda to create religious centers as this that masquerade as Churches but are false to the core due to their message, method and manner.

U. You, as an individual must decide what it is that you want. Is it Jesus? Is it Church? Is it to belong to a popular religious church club?

V. Jesus is coming again for a pure bride that is chaste without blemish, spot, wrinkle or any such thing. This is only done by interacting with Him through the Spirit and Word of God. We must crucify ourselves to the world and the corruption that is in the world by lust. We must be separate from unbelievers. We must be separate unto the Lord. These are things that today's Goat Churches do not know or realize.

W. We are called to not be conformed to the world. The Goat Church, the Goat Herders and the Goats are all in one happy environment of the flesh though at times they use Christian lingo or buzz words.

X. Unless the LORD build the house they labor in vain that build it.

Y. Judgment begins in the House of the LORD. All that is professing to be of Him shall be judged by Him.

Z. “Z” for Zadok. Zadok was a priest before the LORD that was honored by God. His name means “upright”. The prophet Ezekiel spoke of the religious system of apostate Israel and Judah how they had utilized “uncircumcised” men to govern over the affairs of God. We can see the parallel with this text of Ezekiel 44 in today's Church World as the pedestal pastors promote a worldly religious mix that includes unbelievers, thus, uncircumcised of the spirit, and also have mystics, New Agers, Mormons, false prophets and apostles, and false gospel messengers as leaders with influence over the vast audiences of their institutions. Rick Warren is a chief example of this.

One of the greatest errors of these Goat Churches is that they do not bring correction to the masses for sinful corrupt ways of the flesh for those who participate in their programmed meetings. This is what transpired in the ancient times in apostate Israel where the false erring spiritual leaders strengthened the sinner in his transgressions rather than calling them to repent in honor to God Almighty.

The Goat Churches are big business. The Goat Herders are wealthy businessmen. The Goats that make it happen are bankrupt spiritually, eternally, yet, they are the ones who pay for what they want like any movie or circus act of entertainment. This is not funny or entertaining at all. This is a very grievous time where the herds of the masses are going astray after men. It is like that which was spoken by Jeremiah, where a horrible and wonderful thing was committed by the people that had forsaken the Fountain of Living Waters and gone after cisterns, broken cisterns, that could contain no water.

Goats get what they want for they are very stubborn in their way. The Goat Herders are nothing more than goats themselves for they have done that which was right in their own eyes in departing from the Lord, His Word and Spirit and manufactured works of their own hands thus greatly leading astray the goat-people.

Evidence, Example and Discern:
Goat Herder Steve Furtick of Elevation Church. One example of thousands of a Goat Church that has departed from the scriptural model for what "Church" is.
Steve Furtick Goat Herder (pastors are shepherds of sheep not goats). Beareans Not Welcome says Steve Furtick. VIDEO

II Counter Point:
1. Yes it is true that Christians should serve the Lord and not just sit on pews as is eluded to by Steve Furtick.

2. Yes it is true that Christians should not merely study doctrine for the sake of head knowledge, argument and debate.

3. However, the purpose of the church is for the assembly of the righteous. It is for the proclamation of the Word of God. It is for the ministry of the Body of Christ. It is to experience the presence of the LORD in the midst. It is to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. The body of Christ is to be strengthened, encouraged and ministered to by the Lord through His people. The church is not for the sake of entertaining and appealing to the lost in the world. The church is not to be of the world. But it is so sad to note that the popular trends of today have forsaken, for the most part, godliness, holiness, the true gospel, an authentic Word from God that is scriptural.

2. Excerpts From An Email Exchange Regarding Important Vital Issues:
1.  The hirelings are governed by fear yet not the fear of the Lord.  They are only concerned for their own interests and they fear man.  I agree with you that they will suppress and hold back the real truth for the sake of their popularity, money and honor of man. 

2. Jeremiah spoke the truth and rebuked the false prophets, priests and elders of Israel. The truth is the truth regardless of who it offends.  Fear the LORD not man.  Amen.

3. Zechariah 14:  (this is a word for the future age(s)) 6 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. (Ultimately, what is the Feast of Tabernacles?  Is it not God dwelling among men?  Is it not Jesus Christ whom had the fullness of the godhead dwell in Him bodily?  Is it not the fact that God shall dwell among His people that love Him?  Ultimately I thank God yes.  Is their a Feast or external celebration day?  My point is, Oh, that everyday was Feast of Tabernacle Day in which we fellowship with God the Father!)
20 In that day “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in the LORD’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the LORD of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

This is very important.  This text is speaking of the 1,000 year rein of Christ in the earth.  Jesus Christ as the Head of the Church, and Lord of Lords and King of Kings shall institute His commands as directed by the Father and scripture.  So, I agree that these things will come to pass as outlined in scripture in the future age under Jesus Christ.

4. Isaiah 66 and temple worship and sacrifice in this age is an abomination to God. However, the text in Isaiah 66 is crucial to understand.  My point in the Themes For The Week regarding Isaiah 66 is that God reveals how He feels about sacrifice in a temple: 

I believe what I stated about "N" is correct based on Isaiah 66 and the book of Hebrews in particular. 
Specifically, I am saying that to restore a temple in Jerusalem and offer sacrifices in THIS AGE is an abomination.  God will not have His people or servants being involved in this practice based again on Isaiah 66. 
God's temple, house or dwelling is with His people.  We are a temple made without hands.  We are inhabited by the Spirit of God.  This is wonderful. 

5. Believers in Jesus Christ identity to JESUS CHRIST and not natural Israel of the flesh.
a. The key thing is that our identity is not with natural Israel but it is with Jesus Christ.  We are rooted in Him; not a natural unregenerated people (Col 2:7).  Israel has a calling and an election that God will honor if they remain not in unbelief.  Through mercy, God will graft them into the olive tree so to speak; but the branches have been broken off due to their unbelief.  Romans 11. 
I do not believe that God has replaced natural Israel or Judah by the "church".  I believe that God has made a new man in Christ whereby Jews and Gentiles are made to be one new man in Christ.  We are born again, born from above, regenerated people.  This is the Church of God. 
b. The promises and covenants have been changed through Jesus Christ.  Better promises, better covenant are all entailed by faith in Jesus Christ.  Hebrews 8:6-13. Eternal life is in the Son of God by faith. 1Jo 5:11
c. Ephesians 2:  As you cited Eph 2:12; as we continue with this chapter it is showing us that through Christ we are made one.  There are no "strangers" or outsiders in Christ once we have faith in Him.  At the cross and by His blood, Christ has done many things. 
(Ephesians 2:11-12) Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands this is important.  It is stating here that it is what the "Circumcision made in the flesh by hands" is calling the "Uncircumcision".  

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: Rom 2:29 But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.

 d. Whereas, according to Romans 2:28-29 it is clear that what God has accomplished through Jesus Christ is not a work of the flesh, it is of the spirit and heart. 

e. How apostle Paul viewed the fact he was an Israelite according to the flesh, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, circumcised the 8th day, concerning the Law--blameless...Philippians 3: A must read!

f. Important clarification: Colossians 2:7 states:
1. Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
The previous verse says:

2. Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him:
Therefore, my point with the "key thing" statement above is that our identity is not with natural Israel but is Jesus Christ is correct.  Our identity is in the reality of the new life in Jesus through faith.

3. Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.4. Col 3:10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: ,,, Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free: but Christ [is] all, and in all.

6. God bless Israel and the Jews. God bless Israel, the Jews and Jerusalem.  Peace be upon her as they each and every one believes the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Amen

7. God has changed the covenant and brought better promises according to scripture.
Hebrews 8:6 which is one of many texts in scripture that show God has created a better and new covenant that is in the blood of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 8:6-13 6But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. ,7For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. ,,8For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: ,,9Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. ,,10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: ,,11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. ,,12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. ,,13In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

8. Do you receive what these texts are saying?  It says that Jesus is the mediator of a "better covenant, which was established upon better promises."  It says, "if the first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second."  It goes on and says that the LORD said He would make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not according to the covenant that I made at their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt.  THEY continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not said the LORD. 

This text shows that God will not forsake them utterly but be merciful thank God.  And, He will forgive them for their unrighteousness.  But, He said, He will make a new covenant and make the first old.  Yes, I understand God to say that the promises and covenants have been changed through Jesus Christ according to this text and many others.  They are good changes.

9. Some things are fulfilled by Jesus and yet other elements have been changed per Hebrews 7.  When the priesthood was changed, by necessity, the Law must be changed.
A. Hbr 7:11 ¶ If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need [was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? Hbr 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
B. Hbr 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
C. Hebrews 8:6-13 cited above.  Better covenant, better promises, law not faultless, the seeking (sought) of a "second", the LORD said, "a new covenant" which through mercy He will pardon their sin. 

10.Our identity is in Jesus Christ the Savior and Lord who purchased us in His own blood at the cross.  He was raised from the dead by the Spirit of the Father.  He has taken the Gentiles, and the Israel of the flesh, if they repent and have faith, and made them a new man in Jesus Christ.  The two have become one in Jesus.  It is not that Gentiles become Jews or Israelites in flesh.  It is new spiritual man that endures for the ages to come in Christ.
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Eph 2:14 ¶ For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us]; ,,, Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace;
1-This one new man is in Christ Jesus
2-Christ has made both "one",
3-"in Himself--twain (the two) one new man."

11. Exciting fact how God has had a remnant of natural Israel according to the flesh since the times of Christ and the apostles.
a. Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

b. So, God has had a remnant among Israel of the flesh who had their faith in Jesus Christ since the times of the resurrection of Jesus. Through mercy and grace, God has had this remnant. This is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. They being of the flesh of Abraham, became sons of Isaac the promise and became heirs of righteousness that is by faith---not works.

c. Rom 9:6 ¶ Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they [are] not all Israel, which are of Israel:Rom 9:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, [are they] all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. Rom 9:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. Rom 9:9 For this [is] the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. Rom 9:10 And not only [this]; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac; Rom 9:11 (For [the children] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

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