Being Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge and Understanding of God's Word

March 19, 2010 By Cynthia McClaskey Pro 1:18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. Prov 1:19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. [I relate these passages to two groups of people:] Prov 1:18 - I liken this passage to those Christians that are following man-made doctrines. They are destroying themselves and their families by allowing their finances to be drained by those who "claim" to be men of God; exacting tithes and offerings from them that God NEVER commanded them to do. They are submitting themselves to be used of men in ways that God never commanded all in the "name of Christ." They are also trying to LIVE under the LAW that not even the Jews could follow and live under! (See scriptures below) Prov 1:19 - I liken this passage to the Pastors and Evangelists that are exacting those tithes and offerings from the very poorest of their congregations for THEIR gain. They are demanding service and attendance to an institution that God never commanded. They are taking away the very life of the owners thereof. Prov 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Prov 1:25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; These passages tell us that God will reveal the truth to us through his Word. (I will make known my WORDS unto you) However, because we, as individuals are more interested in being accepted by those around us, we do NOT follow the truth that God reveals to us. We are like lambs led to the slaughter! Thus, verse 25 and also verse 32: Prov 1:32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

Wow! What a statement here! Simple people are being destroyed by the prosperity of those who lord themselves over the people as "men of the cloth!" These pastors are exacting tithes and offerings from the Gentile people that God clearly states in Numbers 18 belongs ONLY to the Levites for their service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. No where in scripture does God command the Gentile believer to "tithe." Simple-minded people being destroyed because of lack of knowledge of the scriptures! They are believing what they are TOLD rather than searching out the truth for themselves. They are indwelled with the same HOLY SPIRIT as Pastors and Evangelists!! They CAN come to the knowledge of the TRUTH if they search for it. What a sad state we are in as Christains in today's society. As a people, we are NOT following the truth of God's Word, but have gone aside to man- made doctrines and ordinances. Prov 2:1-11 Pro 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; Pro 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Pro 2:3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; Pro 2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. Pro 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. Pro 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. Pro 2:8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Pro 2:9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. Pro 2:10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Pro 2:11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: We MUST seek wisdom and understanding. We MUST (vs 1) RECEIVE God's words and hide his commandments within our hearts. His commandments are those given in the NEW TESTAMENT written in HIS BLOOD. The Old Testament has been anulled. IF we follow his commands and apply ourselves to wisdom and understanding, THEN, verses 12-15: Pro 2:12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; Pro 2:13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Pro 2:14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; Pro 2:15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: The word froward means "fraud". We're talking about fraudulent ways. These verses have more than one meaning here. They can also be applied to those men that are teaching God's Word in error to simple-minded people and are leading them down paths that will only bring them pain and suffering. If we adhere to the doctrines of men or try to live "under the law", then we will experience

Prov 1:32 - For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. You will also experience Gal 3:10 which talks about being CURSED if you try to live under the Law of the Old Testament: Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are UNDER A CURSE: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in ALL things which are written in the book of the law to DO them. For most of our tithe-paying lives, we lived under this curse. No matter how much money we made, we seemed to always have emergencies that drained all the finances. No matter how hard we adhered to our tight budget, we never had excess to enjoy. It was like having a black hole in our finances all the time, never being able to get ahead. BUT, as soon as we stopped tithing and starting giving what we purposed in our heart to give, the black hole dried up and we are now debt free and enjoying the income that God has provided. We do NOT give huge sums to our local church anymore, because it is NOT biblical ..Every month, we seek out those who truly are in need and give them the money. Local food banks, charities, poor people you know within the church or outside of the church all need a blessing that you can provide. If you are going to try to keep the Old Testament Law of Tithing (which was only for the Israelites) then, you must keep the WHOLE law. (Something which no man has ever done, but Christ) or you are under a curse. We are under grace, not the law and are freed from the penalty of the law through Christ. Oh, and let's not forget this very important passage of scripture for those who are tithing anyway: 1Ti 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. If you are giving tithes and offerings and not paying your debts, this verse applies to you. Also, God tells us to owe no man anything. Do you think he was just kidding when he said that? A man is to provide a secure living for his family. If giving to the church is hindering you from doing that, then you are not only under a curse, but you have also denied the faith and are worse than an infidel!