Probably why I'm this place at the moment where I'm like, God, I don't need more information, I just need to know who You are Jesus!
Dear i encourage you too,
Don't go to church, don't trust the bible, if you go to church not on Sunday, not on Saturday, follow the law, don't follow the law, God excepts gays, God hates gays, women can be pastors, women can't be pastors,
Jesus fulfilled the law, Jesus changed the law, God is done with Israel, God's not done with Israel, the Catholic church is this, the Baptist church is that, the pope said this, Steven Hawkins said that, osas, no osas, baptism is a must, baptism not necessary, immersion only way, a sprinkle is ok, pre-trib, post-trib, mid-trib, creation by God's word, creation by big bang, God used big bang, Jesus never died, Jesus never lived, wine, grapejuice,
Gifts for today, gifts not for today, the earth is his footstool, the earth is really hell, Jesus is angry, God is love,
God is dead, God's not real, God is full of wrath. Heaven is real, heaven is not real, spiritual, carnal, fleshly,
Sin, transgression, pork, no pork, Sabbath, no Sabbath, etc etc
Dear Jesus, Lord we need you back.....please hurry...kinda in a mess.
My dear, it appears that you have really been through some things and you are at a turning point, but don't give up or turn from God. He said in Matthew 7:7,..... Ask, and it shall be given you, seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; Regardless know that you are not alone. A lot of people know that something is wrong with Christianity, today. I, too, where somewhere in that place that you are in today, and I started seeking him. He tells you that he is there with you, in Hebrews 13:5,... Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Also he said in Deuteronomy 31:6,... Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee, he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be encourage for God has not forsaken us. I know you don't know where to turn and many are saying this, that, or the other, but you can't go wrong by following the Bible . The problem with the doctrine that is being taught today, is that, most of it is not in the Bible, and most churches are not following the Bible. A lot of us are not aware of this, because we fail to do as God told us and to get salvation for ourself----(Philippians 2:12 states,.... Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.). We put it in the hands of the preachers to teach us and help us to get salvation. Therefore whatever he tells you is in the Bible, or that a scripture means we believe them. Because it's there job and they should know what the Bible say, right? WRONG!!!! Most preachers don't really know the Bible either and they are interpreting it according to their beliefs and their own understandings. Which is wrong because the Bible clearly tells us in Proverb 3:5,..... Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. The Bible do not need us to interpret it, it interprets itself. And it tells you how to read it, where you can understand it, in Isaiah 28:9-10,. ....it states.... Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. We have to read here and there, all over the Bible, not just the New Testament or just the Old Testament. When you are reading and you run across something that you don't understand or a word you don't know, look it up. Google the main topic of that scripture for references to other scriptures. There are Bibles out there that give you reference in it, to other scriptures. The best version of the Bible to use is King James Version, it doesn't change the meaning of the Bible.
Be be careful for nothing and question all things, because there is a big deception on this earth today. But Jesus did warn us about this in Matthew 24:4-5, 11..... And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. You have to ask yourself, who is in a position to deceive you about Christ? Is the mailman in an authority position, to be able to deceive you? No, it's the preachers in the pulpit!!!!! I know this seem unreal, but if you think about what most church religion details, you will agree. Most preachers are about money, well that is because they have sold you out for money. They know they are not teaching the Bible right, and they are misleading you because they want to get paid. Jesus warn us about this, as well, in Jeremiah 23:1-2, 14, 16-17, 21-22, 30-32 ,.... 1 . Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil your doings, saith the Lord. I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evil doers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. 16. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, no evil shall come upon you. 21. I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. 31. Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.
Paul warns us about this deception when he said in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-15,.... 3. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtility, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 13. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Peter talks about this also, in 2 Peter 2:1-3,..... But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies (
In Titus 3:10 a "heretical person" is one who follows his own self-willed "questions," and who is to be avoided. Heresies thus came to signify self-chosen doctrines not emanating from God (2 Pet. 2:1). Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary.), even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgmen now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Isaiah she also warned about them who are out for gain only, too, in Isaiah 56:9-12,.... All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest. His watchman ( person who watch over your soul) are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
I hope that you are getting the idea how much information is in the Bible to help you know what is right, and who is the true pastors of God. I can go on and on with scriptures (Roman 1:18-28, ) please read these scriptures, they are important, but would take me forever to post them all. As for the questions of how can you tell if your pastor is sent from God, well mines is, and I will tell you how I know. Because he is wise and for the first time in my life, I have knowledge about the Bible and how to serve God as he want me to do, not as I chooses to do. The bible told me this in Ecclesiates 12:9-11,.. And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
if you don't have knowledge and understanding of the bible then who sent your pastor? Which Jesus?
I know this is a lot to spring on you, but it seemed like you were dealing with a lot. So once again, I encourage you to seek out the truth it is out there. And remember it is your responsibility to earn your salvation, not the preacher. We can only save ourselves, not any one else; therefore the preacher can't save you. But to give you a point in the right direction, know that Ecclesiates 12:13 tells you what you should be doing,... Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
I hope this help, be encouraged! I am just a chat away if you need help.
Jayoish