Prepper Recon

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

John 15:5-6

Like last week’s verse, here’s another one that needs very little explanation. Some folks will try to add lengthy expositions to this section of scripture to make it say something it doesn’t, but the Word of God is eternal and unchanging. Some may tell you these withered branches are being cast into a purifying fire. They’ll give you a false sense of security by telling you that it doesn’t matter if you bear fruit in keeping with repentance. They’ll say that those who say otherwise are teaching salvation by works.

We know that salvation is by grace through faith, and that not of yourselves; not of works, lest anyone should boast. Neither is the fruit you bear of yourselves, but it is a natural result of being connected to the vine. But as a branch, you do have a job to do. You need to stay connected to the vine. This requires discipline. It means reading the Bible, listening to worship music, attending church, and prayer. If you are not making a priority for these things, you are not abiding in the True Vine. Jesus said such branches wither and are cast into the fire.

Don’t naively think this is a fire of refinement. Fire is indifferent. Whether it is a refining fire or a destroying fire depends on the substance being cast into it. Silver is refined by fire. Dried branches are destroyed by fire.

Jesus said, “what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his own soul?” Prepper translation: “What good will it do you to survive the coming economic collapse, nuclear war, or even a zombie apocalypse if you don’t know you will go to heaven when you die.” A recent study found that 10 out of 10 people die! On that day we will meet our Maker. It only makes sense to be prepared for that day. Click here to learn more about knowing GOD.

Have a blessed day and happy prepping!

Mark

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

1 Timothy 5:17

I spend a lot of time dishing out tongue-lashings for the apostate pulpits in America. As I don’t see any dramatic change in the overall health of the American Church, you should expect more of the same in the future. As much as I hate to hear myself say it, I actually believe it’s part of my calling. Not for the sake of the effeminate, complacent, lukewarm cowards who parasitically live off of the widow’s mite, but for your sake. Most churches in America are so far off of the standard provided in God’s Word, yet the parking lots and offering plates are overflowing. Someone has to stand on the wall and scream, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.”

In my rants, I can overlook the faithful shepherds, those who are teaching the whole council of God, men like Pastor Greg Sempsrott of Vero Beach Church of God, Pastor Mike MacIntosh of Horizon Christian Fellowship, and Pastor Mike Spaulding of Calvary Chapel Lima, Ohio. To the men who have chosen the narrow gate, the hard and often thankless work of speaking the truth, and faced unknown spiritual attacks in serving God faithfully, I say thank you.

If you are in an apostate church, get out. Get out today. Like Lot fleeing from Sodom, take your family out of that mess and don’t look back.

If you are in a good church that preaches the Word faithfully in season and out, pray for your pastor. Pray for him every day. The enemy is seeking to take him out. And the devil’s arsenal to destroy pastors is growing day by day. Finally, write him a note of encouragement. One of Satan’s most successful tools against effective men of God is discouragement. The seeds of discouragement are most often sown through emails and criticisms which come from their own flocks. Immature Christians who are so caught up in their own head and can’t see past their own hands, have zero empathy for what it’s like to take on the cares of running a church, and are quick to dish out their opinions like Monday-morning armchair quarterbacks. Those with words of encouragement often get derailed by some seemingly more important task. Take the time right now. Click over to your email tab and let your faithful pastor know that he’s doing a good job. Let him know that you are going to be praying for him. It will be like a drink of cold water to a weary desert traveler to your pastor, and God will bless you for it.

Jesus said, “what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his own soul?” Prepper translation: “What good will it do you to survive the coming economic collapse, nuclear war, or even a zombie apocalypse if you don’t know you will go to heaven when you die.” A recent study found that 10 out of 10 people die! On that day we will meet our Maker. It only makes sense to be prepared for that day. Click here to learn more about knowing GOD.

Have a blessed day and happy prepping!

Mark