Reach and Teach to Support the Few

Heartfelt Gatherings

Live from Salt Lake City, Utah, this is Heart of the Matter ESPRESSO! where we do all we can to worship God in Spirit and in Truth. I’m Shawn McCraney, your host.

Show 26 555
Reach and Teach to Support the Few
June 27th 2017
Prayer

Well last Wednesday night, Warren and Suzanne Puckett (of Breaking Bread) and I drove to Preston Idaho and met in the beautiful home of Brent and Ruth S. There was a small gathering of people from up and around those parts. We had two couples from the Preston area, two women who drove from fifty miles away, another woman who lived locally, and a couple from Logan Utah – totaling twelve in all.

All having been LDS, all having come to see the facts about that faith and most walking (to some degree or another) with the Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot tell you how much it warmed my heart to be gathered with these souls – seekers of truth, courageous people who were not only willing to stand up and walk from false religion but who did not choose to throw Jesus out with the lies they had been told.

This was a gathering of the few who find it, a gathering of people who had been alienated by their communities, by their family and friends. The desperation for community and truth is palpable in such souls and it was an honor to participate in such a gathering. We thank Ruth and Brent for opening up their lovely home to such an event and encourage others – as led by God – to do the same. Within two hours time twelve souls formed part of the body of Christ by forging eternal friendships in His name. This is what the church looks like today – believers, not brick and mortar. Anyone of you who is willing to hold such an event in their home and would like our participation to help encourage the Saints toward greater faith and love, let us know by writing me at the following email –

shawn@alatheamedia.com

and we will do all we can to join you and help facilitate this non-brick and mortar approach to this open, loving liberating faith.

Examining New Ideas

We’ve had some initial feedback from the show last week on Satan being over and I have to congratulate those who wrote not only for their willingness to hear something new but for their courage to think about it, test it, and dig deeper into the idea rather than just dismissing it as lacking merit. Additionally, these seekers have brought more thought and information to the topic that have taught me – so praise God, right?! Hats off to those of you we seek Him in spirit and in truth.

Before I get to the emails pertaining to Satan from last week's show, here is an email from Michelle who tunes in to our studies at CAMPUSCHURCH.TV. She writes:

Insightful Email

From: Michele K

I have 2 comments: A modern day refining process like the Lake of Fire would be similar to the military boot camp. Boot camp is painful but has an end. When you make it thru a lot of bad attitudes are ground away.

2nd comment: I have just listened to Rev 6 episode and you were talking about dating. If the Jerusalem council happened around 50AD, the famine under Claudis happened between 41-54AD and Paul mentions that he knew of a man 14 years ago the was caught up into the 3rd heaven. Than it would stand the Revelation could have been written in 36AD. I have found that Acts was written 80-90AD (which would make Luke REALLY old) And if Agabus from Acts 11 prophesized about a famine that happened during Claudis' reign. Then I think the dating is off for Acts as well. I just wonder why the dating is off. Is that a satan trick, also the Christians at the time probably weren't concerned with the details if they were expecting the end of the age to be at hand. Thank you for all your hard work!!!!! 🙂

Michelle thank you for all of your hard work. This content of your email encourages me because it shows a person who is thinking, challenging, testing, and letting God work through them by His Spirit rather than just echoing traditions.

So relative to Satan and last week's show:

The first email came from “Hanna E” who wrote the following:

“Last night- very interesting! You were saying you think Satan is done but we may still be at war with the 'darkness'. I haven't done any studies yet but kept thinking

Wrestling with Dark Forces

About the verse that says "we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities- dark forces.." Interesting that it doesn't mention Satan. Also, I was thinking about Satan's job as the accuser. If his job is done but sin still happens, then are we the accusers of each other? I think about the Bible verse that speaks of us being judges. Also, when Jesus said to the prostitute, "where are your accusers?" Maybe that's another crucial reason for us to choose with Christ's help to forgive each other….

Still struggling with the train of thought about us being able to choose darkness. That would mean that darkness still exists. And if darkness and sin still exist for those not in Christ, then does that mean that the law remains for those who don't accept His shed blood? When the Bible speaks of a day when God will wipe away every tear and there would be no more pain…etc.- I don't see how that can happen if darkness still exists anywhere. And that kinda brings me back around to my previous stance – same war mindset but maybe without Satan, just other dark forces.

A Message of Hope

Anyway, thanks a lot for the brain pulverizing talk, Shawn! Lol. I will dig in the Word and ask God to help me to be open to His truth. I don't think we were meant to have all the answers in this life- but one day will see His face and have no need to question a thing! Jesus bless you, brother!

-Hannah

The tenor, tone, and words of Hannah give this old man hope in the world, give me comfort to know there are people out there who really, really think and who use their own God-given minds to seek Him and His ways out from the Word by the Spirit. I am so proud to belong to such a family of believers. Thank you, Hannah.

A Perspective from New Zealand

Then we got this insightful email from Virgil, our Maori brother in New Zealand. He writes:

Kia ora Shawn, (That's hello in Maori.)

I have a bone to pick with you. Just kidding! Great teaching on Satan. I enjoyed watching you put yet another feather into your cap of heresies. I just watched a clip from Michael Miano (you can see it here: https://youtu.be/zIIaIrH2lvg )

In the last 5 minutes of the clip (now listen to this as this is another take on what I was saying and it's pretty legit), in the last five minutes of the clip, he said that “within the covenant of Jesus, Satan is a defeated foe, but outside in the world he's still busy.” I think this view has merit. My only question is the book of Revelation, which I believe is fulfilled, talks about the ultimate destination of Satan and his angels as being cast into the Lake of Fire and if that is the case it was “bye-bye fathead” to the angel 2000 years ago.

For your entertainment (and for those of you who don’t know the origins of the phrase, “bye-bye fathead,” the story goes that a gruff and grumpy Army General needed some parts for his jeep and picked up the phone to call the warehouse. A young soldier answered, warehouse, and the General said, “This is General Phillips and I want part number 200-5007 sent to my office immediately.”

The soldier replied, “I’m sorry sir, but we don’t have that part. And it’s gonna be a month before you can get it, too.” The General flew into a rage, ranting and screaming his demands for immediate service but to his amazement the soldier replied with, “Listen fathead, you aren’t getting your damned part.”

Infuriated, the General screamed, “Do you know who this is!” The soldier replied, “I do. Your General Phillips. But the question is, do you know who this is?” The General admitted that he didn’t and the soldier replied, “Then it's bye-bye fathead!” And hung up the phone.

Annyyyyyyway, Virgil continues and says: “I really liked your teaching, but now I have to compare two Preterist views on the matter. I'm inclined to go with your take on the scripture for now. But it's an interesting idea: That Satan is defeated for those in covenant. I can't see how that would work though if he's been cast in the lake of fire…

Which, now that I think of it, presents another question. Do you believe the lake of fire is still a rubbing away of sin, etc? Because wouldn't that mean Satan got/gets that treatment too? I like Miano's other thoughts too, which you touched on, concerning the idea that the adversary is whatever or

The Real Nemesis

Whoever keeps us from God. He presented the carnal nature as being our main foe today.

Anyway, good thoughts from you. I watched both the recant and follow-up milk question, and the HOTM video on Satan. All good food for thought, brother Mccraney.

Blessings,
Virgil N

Thanks, my Mouri brother. And a couple of things to reiterate on Satan, that tie into what Hanna and Virgil said:

Satan is a created being – good, at the start in my estimation but like all heavenly and earthly creatures, predisposed with a will. Something in him, whether pride or power-seeking – whatever – helped him to choose to rebel. I would call that something the antithesis to light and love – which is how scripture describes God directly – as light and love.

Where light and love exist, their opposites cannot. But because He is, there is an opposite, what I believe is an eternal opposite, just as where there is heat there is an absence of heat (cold) and where there is light there is the absence of light (dark).

To me this is the real nemesis, the real void of death and dark – and it was this opposite force that called to or drew Satan the angel away. Satan was NOT the originator of the dark, he was merely a pawn in its hands, and when his purposes were wiped out by the life and death of Jesus, the pawn is no longer. But like we suggested last week, dark (the opposite of light) will always exist by virtue of the fact that God is eternal light that never dies or goes away.

The Antithesis Within

I contend, in the face of real fulfillment, that the being Satan is over, but the true sinister form abides – and it abides IN us if we allow it to thrive and reign. It could be, like Hanna intimated, that we are now the accusers, and to really step out there, perhaps those who die unregenerated roam about spiritually after this life haunting and drawing others to the dark side – which could account for all the apparent sightings of ghosts and spirits people seem to see. Who knows. Somewhere in all of this lies the facts. Let’s keep looking!

The Ministry's Focus

I’m going to step away from our working chart for a week and talk about something that occurred to me while traveling with Warren last week. This ministry is aimed at accomplishing a few key things that we think are vital general areas of the faith.

First, we are aimed at reaching people with Jesus and the Good News. All people, but especially the LDS as we believe that many of them are in tremendous spiritual bondage. We have ALWAYS believed that Jesus is the operative key to success in this area of missional outreach and NOT just getting Mormons to leave Mormonism.

The second general area we focus on is teaching believers the Word of God. We do this through Heart, through our books, and through our weekly CAMPUS gatherings where we go through the books of the Bible verse by verse.

So first we reach out to all with Jesus, then we teach any who are interested about Jesus, and this leads us to the final focus of this ministry (which by the way, is the CULMINATING REAL VALUE of the MINISTRY. What I mean by this is the first approach of reaching, and the second focus of teaching have a reason or purpose – they are the means that justify the end or the ultimate culminating purpose of what we do.

Supporting the Few

Ready?

It’s heavy, and pretty arrogant sounding all by itself. But all that we do is to . . . TRULY SUPPORT . . . the few who are Son’s and Daughters of God.

See, we read in Luke 13:23-24:

“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”

In Matthew 7:13-14 we remember Jesus saying:

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

To me, in the context of all of scripture, what Jesus is saying is while He has reconciled the world to God, there are few will not face after-life loss or destruction and the reason

The Parable of the Sower

For this is they were not part of the few. Why were they not part of the few – no matter how they felt, or what they intended, they couldn’t, wouldn’t truly follow Christ. Jesus touches on this in the parable of the sower, where he describes the heart-types in the world where the Word is cast (as seed).

The first heart-type is wayside soil, and there the Word never gets into the soil or heart at all but is gobbled up by the birds of the air. The second heart-type (or ground) is stony and does not allow the word, which was received with joy, to take root. The third heart-type (or ground) is thorny, and Jesus says these too receive the word but once it takes root and rises toward the sky, the thorny vines choke it out.

The final heart-type or ground (which He calls good-ground) is the type that receives the Word and it takes deep root downward, then bears great fruit upward, some five, some ten, and some twenty-fold. It is this last heart-type of ground that is in the Few, those souls who are genuine, authenticated proved disciples of Jesus Christ. These are NOT just those who have been REACHED. These are NOT just those who have been TEACHED. These are the few who, by and through suffering and loss, have shown and proven to God that they are in fact genuine followers – followers of Jesus in this world. These will exit this world as joint-heirs with CHRIST. Joint heirs. They will jointly – jointly share in all Christ has inherited of the Father.

The True Destination

So while outreach is the first step in the process of all this, and teaching the word comes in next, in my estimation the real lasting eternal meaningful destination is not to be found, nor simply to be taught, but to Become and Be . . . His . . . His sons and daughters. I have been mulling over this concept for nearly ten years. The Word speaks of this only and true destination constantly, but it lies discreetly beneath the flora and fauna of a lot of other Christian matters.

The Cost of Discipleship

Last week as I toured with Warren he mentioned a passage out of Luke that, by the Spirit, sparked something in my mind. It is found in Luke 14 where all by itself, Jesus says (and this is the passage Warren referred to):

33 “So likewise whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”

This passage stewed in my brain a good while and the other morning I decided to look at the context of when it was said. Ready to have ears to hear? Turn to Luke 14:25-35 and let's read.

Luke 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

Now note right off that bat a couple of things. These words were NOT just said to His disciples. They were said to the multitudes – the great multitudes that were following him. We know they were following Him because it says, “and He turned and said to them.” That’s the context. A large group was following Him and He was led to explain what following Him really – really meant. What it really took to be His disciple. So turning he says to them:

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

The word hate here can mean to love less than something else. Jesus was facing a mass who perhaps were swearing allegiance to Him. Who were plastering Him with words of devotion. As the Master teacher, He was at times prone to test people's claims of devotion with means that at first seemed harsh. I believe this was the case here. His words were not literal; they were purposeful to help the crowd see the allegiance it would require to actually be His disciple.

In Matthew 15:22 we read of a similar situation:

22 “And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto”

The Lost Sheep of the House of Israel

25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. (Pretty harsh sounding, eh?) 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

The Heart of Discipleship

So, he first tells the multitude that if they think they can love family more than Him and be His disciple, they were mistaken. This is a straight-up description of the heart of the few – family would never come between them and Him. (Verse 27)

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Second straight up description – if a person is “not willing to bear his cross, and come (or follow in after Him, they cannot be His disciple (or one of the few) either.” This is spiritual, scriptural code for: “You will watch me take up a cross and bear it.” Bear it where? To calvary, outside the city gates, where I will be humiliated, mistreated, and put to death – and if you are not also willing to spiritually take up your cross and also follow Him to a place where all flesh is put to death, you cannot be His disciple!

Counting the Cost

Then he says, “FOR” . . . in other words, “in light of what I have just said . . .” Now listen, the multitude seems to have been conveying to Him allegiance and devotion. It’s a valid reason why He would address them this way. And so here He ties two examples to real life where people consider what it takes to devote oneself to a cause. And so He says:

28 “For” which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. His point in this is to say, If you are going to be my disciple count the cost like you would if you were going to build AND finish a tower. Three times the word “finish” is used here, a KEY to the true Few who are His disciples – they will see it their walk through to the end, along with all that it demands – which, in the case of following Him means EVERYTHING!

31 Or (let me give you another example to consider that ties into this) Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. In this example we have a similar theme – making a decision to do something and really thinking it through because there is a cost – in this case, the price of going to war – a fitting example. I personally find it interesting that Jesus adds in this example that following Him is like choosing to go to battle where you are on the side with ten thousand and the opponent has twenty thousand and that in the face of this the King essentially rethinks His initial ambition and instead sends forth a decree for peace, which is what many people do once they have joined the heavenly ranks – they back track into the realms of peace and comfort rather than continue forward in a fight that has impossible odds.

Forsaking All for Discipleship

After having said in verse 26 and 27 two reasons people “cannot be His disciple, and then after giving two real life examples of when people will count the cost of a thing before engaging in it, Jesus says – ready?

33 So likewise, (now look at yourselves and your present desires to follow me) whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. How seriously do you take these words of Jesus – that “he who does not forsake all that he has CANNOT be my disciple?”

Teachings of Jesus on True Discipleship

said it to the masses! He said it to us!

You wanna be reached for Jesus only – saved as it were, receive the seed and be planted on stony soil and take shallow root and you’ve got it. You wanna be someone reached and teached – be a seed planted on thorny soil that actually bears roots and grows up . . . but gets choked by the cares and riches of this world and you’ve got it. But if you sincerely want to be one of the few who have found it, to be a joint heir with Christ, to actually BE one of the few, a disciple, (I’ll use the words of Jesus here)

“Forsake all (all) that you have.”

Few . . . be there . . . that find this.

Insights on Salt and the Parable of the Sower

Jesus wraps this segment of teaching up and adds some amazing insights that tie directly into the parable of the sower AND what He is saying to the masses (verse 34):

34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour (its ability to continue to salt, to finish the tower, to endure the war) how can its season be restored? 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The Mission of Alatheamedia and CAMPUS

Alatheamedia and CAMPUS is geared toward

• reaching the lost with the truth, – teaching the truth to the saved
• but all of it is a means to try and help encourage and fortify and strengthen the few who, as truth seekers, are willing (and able in Christ) to give all, to finish the course.
• If this is you, YOU know who you are because you know you have (or you are on your way to) giving your all, to being crucified, and to following Him. And that the best witness and evidence of this all is the presence of His love.

I guarantee, those who love as He loves HAVE given their all.

Let those of you who have ears hear.

Let’s open up the phone lines:

(801)

SPOT

Contrasting Messages

HIM and HIS VICTORY

The GOOD NEWS FOR ALL

Encouragement unity, freedom, and love

RELIGIOUS BONDAGE BY “THE FEW” upon “the Many”

Discouragement Bondage, Disunity

Seen through

(Described as . . .)

The result

(Described as . . .)

The Result 1. The Good News “Come, buy without money free of price” “all the world” Gratitude Freedom Love and Joy Conform to us by joining us. Always Bad News, somehow, in the end. 2. Unburdening of Cares Come unto me and I will give you rest. Yoke is easy, His burden light

Joy Assignments and Demands of Man. Support our causes.

Burdens

3. True Humility “Become as Little Children” “Weak things of the World”

Humility and the Spirit Intellectualism Fleshly Wisdom Endless Debates Power Plays Politicking

Arrogance Dogma Worldly Strategies 4. Hell and afterlife punishment He has had the Victory End of all things Satan is OVER Hope and Peace Hell and Lake of Fire! Satan! Demons!

FEAR

5. He has all Authority

Christ is our direct Head by the Spirit. He is IN us.

Faith, trust, and growth in the Spirit “We have the Authority” “We represent Him on earth.”

Pleasing Man, trusting Man and fearing man more than God. 6. We Live by the Spirit Laws written on hearts Freedom to Love Misappropriating the Bible Content to their advantage

Manipulation

7. All things lawful and legal

Walk in the Spirit

Freedom to be led internally by God through Faith “Legalisms” Material Doctrinal Practical Moral Financial

Law = Sin Hamster wheel. Measuring up. REPENTANCE

8. Saw all through to the End End of all things All will happen within a Generation Bible all about that day and age materially. Reasonable context provides freedom & rest

Second Coming is eminent This end is still coming!

Uncertainty, compulsion, fear

9. He ended Material Religion “Son of Man has no place to rest His head” and “he will shake everything until the only thing left will be unshakeable. “A Kingdom Not of this World” “It’s a Spiritual Kingdom.” “The Kingdom of God is within you.” We are living temples offering up living sacrifices to God.

Materialism Strategy Market Share Brick and Mortar Worship Concerts

A Worldly Kingdom that reassures itself that it is not of this world. – Emotionalism – Materialism – Consumerism – Participationism 10. He is the Living Word. The Bible is a map not a manual. It is spiritually discerned not materially mandated A living witness to assist us in all we believe

A Written Manual!

LAW

11. Because of the above the Faith is ENTIRELY Subjective

All “go alone” to God after this life. Mark 9 No man judges another Free by the Spirit Liberty in Christ Law written on hearts

Freedom to seek a DIRECT relationship with God in whatever ways we are lead.

An Oppressive Objective Faith – Ontology of God – Baptisms – Holy Spirit – Authority – Rites/Observances – Lifestyles – Bible Trans – Judging

Dogma Denominationalism In-fighting “Us verses them” And in the end, those who have embraced all of the above become so ensconced in the system, so zealous, so committed to it, they have little time or inclination to question what the few are doing to them. 12. Unconditional LOVE

By this will men

Love and Discipleship

know you are MY disciples IF you have love one for another. Matrix on how knowledge leads to truth, the truth sets us free, and that truth is Love.

The Nature of Conditional Love

Conditional love based on all of the above.

The Consequences of Anger and Infighting

ANGER/INFIGHTING Bondage