4 BOCNEWS.com JULY 2019 1. KIRK FRANKLIN - LONG LIVE LOVE 2. PAUL MORTON - A MONTH OF SUNDAYS 3. WILLIAM MURPHY - SETTLE HERE 4. MICHAEL W. SMITH - AWAKEN 5. DANNY GOKEY - HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET 6. DONALD LAWRENCE - GOSHEN 7. WOW GOSPEL 2019 8. BEN TANKARD - RISE 9. THE TRUE BELIEVERS - BACK TO THE ROOTS 10 NEWS BOYS - UNITED Greed Almighty God didn't create a race of robots that He could program. He created people, in a very special way, born with the sinful nature, giving them the ability to make a choice, by their own FREE WILL, to either receive His ONLY WAY of sal- vation or to reject it. That sinful heart, in more ways than one, has become addicted to this world that leads to destruction, death and hell! 1John 1:5-10 teaches that we all sin, and that if anyone thinks he is without sin, he is a liar and the truth is not in him. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 gives us a clear description of what the life of sin is. "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit he king- dom of God. Do not be deceived: Neither the sexual- ly immoral nor the idolaters nor the adulterers nor the male prostitutes nor the homosexual offenders nor the thieves nor the GREEDY nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." The apostle Paul then adds; "And that is what some of you WERE." But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (1Cor 6:9-11). Galatians 5:19-21 also gives a crystal clear description, with even more detail, concern- ing this sin nature. Paul then adds in Galations 5:19-20, "That those who LIVE and PRACTICE such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God" (NIV- NKJV). Those who practice such things are obvi- ously not saved. What is the apostle Paul trying to say to the CHURCH? He is teaching that we all sin. However, once we have made the commit- ment to receive Jesus Christ as our Savior by surrendering ours lives to Him, we are supposed to be allowing the Holy Spirit to help us recognize what sin is, and then make every effort to turn and repent from a "delib- erate" life of sin. Unfortunately, there were many in the early New Testament church's who claimed to be Christian's, yet they were still LIVING in the world. The writer of Hebrews gives strict warning to all, yesterday, today and forever, that a deliber- ate life of sin, without any effort to repent, will lead to eternal con- demnation. What about those who have RECEIVED the full knowledge of the truth, yet who are still deliberately living in sin (Heb 10:26)? As we continue to study the Words of the Lord, we learn that there is one major act of the sin- full nature that is the main ROOT of all kinds of evil. This major root, described as being a major problem within the church throughout the entire New Testament, is the instigator that keeps people blinded from receiving the truth, thus having fel- lowship with some other Jesus. Could GREED have anything to do with a continuous life of sin? Jesus was sold out for the money back then, and today as well. "For the love of money is THE/A root of ALL kinds of evil. Some people eager for money, they have wandered away from the faith, and have pierced themselves with many sorrows and griefs." Wow! Paul isn't talking to the unsaved world. He is preaching to the church that is supposed to be turning from greed. (1Tim 6:3-15 NIV)! The Lord clearly teaches that He wants to bless all who love Him, and that He will meet all of our NEEDS according to His riches and glory. However, the Lord clearly condemns those, who claim to be Christian, from using the Name of Jesus to make money, especially if they are twisting and contra- dicting His Word, and then misleading church goers into thinking that their teachings and motives are pure. Do congregations know how much their mega church pastor makes? For sure the church reaches out to feed the poor, the homeless and those in need of clothing. But what if there is a little left over, after feeding the poor. The pastor for sure needs to feed his family. But what about those who are deliberately WATERING down the words of Jesus, or mislead- ing church goers into giving to support more than just feeding the poor? I mean, after all, there is the new building fund, mission trips, carpet for the entryway, paving for the parking lot, a new basket ball court for the youth........All of that costs lots of money, and the church needs to pay for that. What about taking up an offering for the guest speaker? Does the home pastor get a cut. Does the Lord's anointed ones deserve extra financial privileges? However, where does the money come from that pays for the jet airplanes and multi million dollar mansions? Are mega church leaders setting an By Michael Forti END TIMES Michael Forti But what about those who are deliberately WATERING down the words of Jesus, or misleading church goers into giving to support more than just feeding the poor? I mean, after all, there is the new building fund, mission trips, carpet for the entryway, paving for the parking lot, a new basket ball court for the youth. Continued on Page 5