"Snake Oil and Smoke Shields", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

Religion is often like politics. You can never see through the facades and shiny objects meant to distract you from the truth.

I can hardly watch Christian television anymore save for a few earnest preachers sold out to the truth and not picking our pockets.

Very few are pointing the way to the Cross, and are instead preaching and teaching the exact opposite to what Paul has instructed us in the Word.

Read what Paul admonishes in 1 Corinthians 2:

Verse 1 & 2: "AS FOR myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God [concerning what He has done through Christ for the salvation of men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom; (2) For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified."

Verse 4: "And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them]."

Answer us the question as to why, Paul.

Verse 5: "So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God."

Where should our faith be firmly planted?

In the power of God!

Remember this:

People who preach the power of God are in touch with the message of the Cross of Christ. Those who hear the message of the Cross are in touch with the Spirit of God.

Paul says that the natural (carnal, soulish) man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God (v. 14).

This also pertains to those who preach and teach the gospel in natural self proclaimed wisdom, and not in the Spirit of Power.

The power of the Holy Spirit and not one shred of human wisdom is how our bible was fashioned by God.

Paul for instance never sat down with ink and paper and pondered, "Hmm...let's see, what should I write?"

He was filled with so much inspiration from God through the Holy Spirit that God's wisdom flowed out of him unfettered and unspoiled! Whether he wrote by his own hand or dictated to someone else it was the words of God that we have received as a result! Praise God!

And that my friends should be the method of "sermon" preparation every preacher should be applying to their messages!

This is what constitutes operating in the prophetic. Preaching is prophecy and should be going forth to the people each and every time a pastor or evangelist gets before their people.

Since I'm a preacher and don't get to hear a lot of messages except for what I tune in on TV or the internet, I can tell you folks that on the grand scale this does not appear to be happening!

What I'm seeing is a lot of primping, preening, pimping and pickpocketing.

I have to channel search a bit to find the few who are concerned about getting out the foundational message of the Cross, Faith, Salvation, and Sanctification.

Are your "holy emotions being stirred"?

Or are your carnal itches being scratched?

Be careful my friends, and I say this with the utmost urgency and love of heart. Be careful as to what you are listening to and hearing. Accept messages only from the most earnest and Holy Spirit filled.

Weigh the words of men and women carefully (yes, even this preachers) and do not settle for less than what stirs your spirit, and not what merely tickles your ear.

The old time gospel is being tinkered with and infected with more and more putrefied carnal wisdom than God's truth.

Accept no substitute.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><