1st Church of the Poisoned Mind
But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
The membership roll of the 1st Church of the Poisoned Mind is much larger than the true church that belongs to Jesus so be on your best guard. For it is written: “Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.” (Galatians 4:27)
The examples of true love, purity and truth mentioned here are so exceedingly rare that no frame of reference can be provided to the reader for comparison. The best I can do is point you to the example of the first church mentioned in the New Testament. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. (Acts 4:32) To really understand you have to walk The Walk of righteousness. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1)
The point now for those few who do walk in His self-sacrificing love is that you will be hounded and attacked by the 1st Church of the Poisoned Mind so do not be overcome by their bitterness. Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. (Acts 14:19)
There is no way around it. If you love the Lord, are growing in the love of the Lord and walk the talk of the crucified life, the 1st Church of the Poisoned Mind will, like zombies, seek to devour you because their minds are poisoned. Like the congregation that followed Moses in the desert they will grumble and poison the minds of many to their own destruction. And do not grumble, as some of them did–and were killed by the destroying angel. (1 Corinthians 10:10) When one combines the poisoned religious folk with the poisoned grumblers, one indeed beholds a large membership roll.
Those already poisoned against the church I once preached at, i.e. Sound Doctrine Church, Sound Doctrine Church I pastored no longer exists, so this refers to those disciples around the world that are members of God’s Sound Doctrine Church. will not find this post to be of any value unless they are willing to repent. As the only remedy for a poisoned mind is repentance and few are those who honestly desire a clear head by surrendering their sinful mind to gain the holy mind of Christ. Indeed, to a poisoned mind this post will confirm for them that something is wrong somewhere. But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16) and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:26)
No Matter The Facts
“Well, I still think it is a cult.”
As one poisoned mind put it when events and facts proved her wrong, “Well, I still think it is a cult” there are those who will never be able to confirm the Truth.
It is always amazing how the 1st Church of the Poisoned Mind members embrace all manner of sins, darkness and evil schemes while falsely accusing the saints of God of such sins. No wonder Paul writes that such full-scale hypocrites are “self-condemned.”
Like unrepentant Nazis many go to their graves self-justifying all manner of wickedness and the harm they inflicted upon others. Such as Titus records are warped and self-condemned individuals. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. (Titus 3:11)
This post is to encourage all who are following hard after Jesus, seeking hourly a full surrender that you will have to endure the opposition of those injected with poison so do not let them trouble your peace in the Lord. Love them, rebuke them and when they refuse to repent move on literally shaking the dust off your feet. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. (Acts 13:51) Do not waste much time on the members of the Poisoned Mind Church. Leave their judgement to God and continue to walk in God’s love without trying to win them over again. so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. (1 Thessalonians 3:3) Prove your obedience by keeping away from such poisoned minded members.
Therefore do not be partners with them. (Ephesians 5:7)
So captive is the poisoned mind to their sins that these warped individuals will seek to stir up governing officials and follow you from town to town just to stir up persecution if they can. Fact is, the foolish courts of the United States cannot recognize the difference between protected speech and assaulting speech so the whole nation is descending into division and violence. For those who love the Lord with honest obedience things are going to get worse, much worse. Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. (Acts 14:19) Seattle’s King County Prosecutors and the City of Enumclaw in Washington State are prime examples of God’s truths concerning the 1st Church of Poisoned Minds. Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, Prosecutor David Seaver, Prosecutor Jason Simmons, Prosecutor Lisa Johnson, Prosecutor Mark Larson, Prosecutor Nicole Weston, Prosecutor Rich Anderson, Seattle Washington, Ian Goodhew, Judge Lori K. Smith, City of Enumclaw, See hardtruth.us, justicealone.org, enumclaw.com
Nothing Is Pure
…but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure.
The 1st Church of the Poisoned Mind finds nothing to be pure, true, right, and holy because they themselves are captive to their own personal sinful impurities. Such have poisoned minds and corrupted consciences that are unable to see or acknowledge Truth because they do not want the true gospel of Jesus and measure your heart by their impure heart. Though some might claim to be Christian they live as enemies of the cross. As Paul wrote: For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. (Philippians 3:18)
Those who have the mind of Christ by God’s power know that obedient purity is possible and that there are those who are better filled with a holy grace than themselves. To the corrupted no one is better than themselves and they know, deep down inside, that they are full of unrepentant corruptions so they wickedly think to themselves, how can anyone else be that pure? Thus, they commit the sin of Cain and self-righteously judge the innocent as guilty. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brothers were righteous. (1 John 3:12)
To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. (Titus 1:15-16)
There are far too many who refusing to believe and refusing to obey the true gospel that are all too happy to poison the minds of many individuals. Whether religious Jews, or religious Christians, those who refuse the message of the cross will seek to poison the minds of others. They will perform such evil deeds with slander, gossip, and by force.
But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. (Acts 14:2)
A poisoned mind is paralyzed, locked into one state of being and viewpoint. A poisoned mind sees everything a true disciple of Jesus does, or does not do, as sinister, evil, and twisted.
Since a poisoned mind is dead on arrival it is not possible to communicate anything that will correct their thinking. Pray for them but do not be partners with them. Their minds are dead and their lives are in lockstep with their willful ignorance, willful misconceptions and willful lies.
Their poisoned minds are a product of their rebellious fruits and unrepentant sins. And when these are combined with a hard heart, evil division arises in the land. This is why God abhors those who cause unholy divisions. Jesus said by their warped fruits you will recognize them. From false witnesses, haughtiness and lying tongues that devise wicked schemes, they have feet that are quick to rush into judgment. These are the all-to-familiar-tell-tale-signs of the 1st Church of the Poisoned Mind.
There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. (Proverbs 6:16-19)
All seems evil and twisted to a poisoned mind. No matter how good the deed or how pure the motives all is viewed with a poisoned mind that can only see dark forbidding clouds. Such always interpretate the good their eyes see as something evil and twisted. But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” (Matthew 9:34)
Consider
Consider what a poisoned mind thinks and does…
If Jesus heals – He has a demon. But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” (Matthew 9:34)
If His disciples love others – they do so only to benefit themselves. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
If Paul preaches selflessly for the Lord – he is slandered as everything selfishly comes back to him in their mind’s eye. Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. (2 Corinthians 7:2)
If the first church has all things in common – it is some kind of weird cult. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. (Acts 2:44-45)
If godly men led – the poison mind is sure they hate women. do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord . (Zechariah 8:17)
If true disciples of Jesus seek to live a holy life – such poisoned minds know in secret they really sin. To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. (Titus 1:15-16)
If church attendance grows – the poisoned mind knows it is because they are manipulating the weak. No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law–there is a curse on them. (John 7:49)
If good is produced in a city – their doctrine is still false. but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” “We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” (John 10:32-33)
If you tell the truth – you are called liar. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:43-44)
If you love deeply by the power of God – you belong to a cult group. We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes. (Acts 24:5)
If you demand purity and fidelity – you are legalistic. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?” “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?” (John 7:19-20)
If everyone walks in the Light – leadership is manipulative. What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit? (1 Corinthians 4:21)
If you show no favoritism – you are a deceiver. Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews. (John 7:13)
If you refuse to associate with troublemakers – you are called divisive. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:14)
If you refute what is wicked – you are called hateful. The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired man a maniac. (Hosea 9:7)
If you hate your own life, fall to the ground and die to self as you follow Jesus – you are accused of being radical. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:25)
If you love leadership, fellowship with leadership – you will be slandered that you follow a man. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1) Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9)
If you despise the dollar – you are a fool and taken in by leadership. “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. (Luke 16:13-14)
If you are faithful in following Jesus – they think you are unenlightened until you leave “that group”. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! (Matthew 6:23)
And so, it goes on and on in a never-ending black hole of sucking the truth and love out of everything good in Jesus.
This is why Jesus finally said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” (Luke 20:8)
Devil Discussions
The only reason the members of the 1st Church of the Poisoned Mind wish to keep talking is to seek out a weak emotional crack in your spiritual armor so they might take you captive. Like evil prosecutors throughout history as they conduct their inquisition towards those seated on the hot-seat the goal is not truth but the satisfaction of their twisted happy destruction of their victims. Such has been the case since the Garden of Eden when that old nasty serpent talked with Eve.
The Devil knows that God’s saints are most vulnerable when being persecuted, facing trials or when being disciplined by life’s hardships. Pay attention as Paul will write that we are destined to face such trials so watch that grumbling and the temptation to escape suffering by compromising with lies does not cause you to forfeit the loving fellowships that are of God. And do not grumble, as some of them did–and were killed by the destroying angel. (1 Corinthians 10:10)
When the Devil deceived Adam and Eve his attack was upon the character of God and such evil suspicions are being lobbed to this day at God’s holy servants. So too those of the Poisoned Mind Church inject the poison of evil suspicions, doubts, and questions. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’ ” (Matthew 15:19-20)
For God knows…the serpent stated.
The issue under discussion did not matter to the Evil One as the goal was a poisoned mind, heart, and soul against the very holy character of God. Once the Devil and his slaves infuse their poison only God can heal and open the minds of those taken in by such sinful suggestions. After all God only gives a sound mind to the repentant. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
Therefore, Paul warns true disciples to be careful towards those who would poison the love and fellowship God works in a holy church. I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. (Romans 16:17) As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. Be on guard!
There are those who are so vile that a complete rejection, a total refusal to talk and associate with them is the only prudent course. Simply put, disobey God in this matter at your own peril and loss of joy in Jesus. These are deadly serpents who drip with poison. All who touch them risk being bitten and poisoned.
They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips. (Psalm 140:3)
Only fools would enter the Garden of Eden and discuss God with the Devil to get the other side of the story. The Devil may wish to discuss both-sides-of-the-story but with holiness there is no other side to the story.
Indeed, there is only one side to any story – God’s side. It is His Spirit of Truth that makes all things clear but only to those pure in heart who have chosen to hate their own lives, which includes their opinions and judgements. As Jesus preached: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever– the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)
Again, there are many a low class of individual for whom no matter how skilled a true Christian’s arguments are it will not charm such snakes. As we have seen no matter how loving and holy a life is to the 1st Church of the Poisoned Mind you will always be deceived, or a deceiver.
Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears, that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be. (Psalm 58:4-5)
Safety from members of the 1st Church of the Poisoned Mind is found where all safety is located – in complete unadulterated Holy Spirit empowered obedience. Therefore, warn these individuals, once, then twice. After that have “nothing”, repeat, “nothing” to do with them.
Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. (Titus 3:10-11)
Indeed these poisoners of minds are many times just flattering fault finders and grumblers that prosecute anything and everything no matter how holy and humble for the sheer wicked pleasure of it. As Jude wrote: These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. (Jude 1:16)
God Fearing
…incited the God-fearing women of high standing…
Ok, you consider yourself a God-fearing individual. Land’s sake you might even be a God-fearing individual but to tolerate any member who belongs to the 1st Church of the Poisoned Mind could prove to be a fatal foolishness as you could, as a God-fearing person, persecute a true disciple of Jesus. Such repentance over this kind of sin would be no soft easy hill to climb.
Consider seriously again that God-fearing women and men in the next scripture were poisoned and did persecute Jesus!
Let me repeat that, God-fearing women and the leading men were defiled and struck at the Spirit of Jesus.
Therefore, show some humility and obedience to God by having nothing to do with the 1st Church of the Poisoned Mind otherwise you could, as a God-fearing person, persecute a true disciple of Jesus.
But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:50-52)
Poison Measurement
But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.
How do you know if you are poisoned?
If you are filled with joy and the Holy Spirit as you lay down your life with those overflowing with God’s love and Truth you have, are and will overcome the sinners whose membership is the 1st Church of the Poisoned Mind. Those who have been stopped from fellowshipping and suffering with such true Christians because their minds now rage with hostile thoughts have a poisoned mind.
If you have pleasant memories of godly fellowship towards fellow disciples and leaders, you are not poisoned. Holding to the mind of Christ, the Truth of God and the love in the Holy Spirit is always a sure sign that one does not have a poisoned mind. The scripture below points us to the real danger and evil goal of those who belong to the 1st Church of the Poisoned Mind.
The goal of those with poisoned minds is to separate you from fellowship with those whom God loves. Indeed, they will scatter and destroy whole churches to stop holy inspired fellowship in Jesus.
In doing the Evil One’s bidding they separate you from fellowship with the Living God and His family. Indeed as Jesus flat-out stated your relationship with God will come to halt when such sins enter the picture. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23-24)
So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.
You know quite well that we were destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.
But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.
For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?
Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. (1 Thessalonians 3:1-13)
If you desire to have a Holy Spirit empowered love that is always increasing and overflowing, then you will have to reject the evil talk of the 1st Church of the Poisoned Mind. Obey God and you will be strengthened in your heart so that you are blameless when Jesus returns with all His holy ones. Such obedience God promises to bless.
Obey Jesus and leave them, have nothing to do with them and if you give up your life in this matter His sweet, sweet peace and freedom will be given you by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Heaven is about love. Love for God with an outpouring of selfless love for His saints. Let not the Evil One and the pathetic members off the 1st Church of the Poisoned Mind keep you from such holy joys!
Antidote
In your hearts do not think evil of each other. (Zechariah 7:10)
The only antidote for a poisoned mind is repentance in accordance with God’s Truth.
You must begin to walk in the Light while confessing your sins with those you betrayed or thought evil of.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
You must confess your sins over time as is required until the blood of Jesus has purified your poisoned mind.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
You must confess and renounce the sin(s) that allowed your mind to be poisoned.
He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)
You must prove your repentance by building yourself up in the faith.
First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. (Acts 26:20)
Fail to do so and one day you might hate and betray unto the death those whom God loves.
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