31 January, 1999

Dear Children,

Well first of all, before we get into the spirit (Spirit) of this message, I’d like to just say "thank you Jesus" for the opportunity of being able to write these sermonets each and (almost) every week. It is an undeniably great honor being entrusted with such an awesome responsibility by my Father God... and I thank Him for it... and may He use each and every one of them to touch many hearts and lives for His Kingdom.

Now if you will remember last week we started off on a new mini series on The Sin Of Amway which actually branched off from another mini series on The President, The People, And The Religion. You might even say that before long we could very possibly have a full grown tree sprouting from these sermonets. But anyway, based on the way things are shaping up, you could say that these little sermonets are getting just a little bit complex. But complex or not they are getting to the bottom line issue that seems to be dragging down our nation (the good old U S of A) into the burning pit of Hell!

So seeing how the Amway Corporation pretty near represents the present day "way of America" to a "T" (The American Way; the one that’s dragging the President and the people down into the flames of Hell), that was as good a reason as any why we (the Lord and me; mostly the Lord) decided to go ahead and do the full blown book report on Rich DeVos’ (co-founder of Amway) Compassionate Capitalism. And seeing how the Lord has such a vested interest in Mr. DeVos’ religious business, He’s even gone ahead and given us some pretty heavy Scripture to help out with our book report.

Now for those of you with poor mental retention (like me), in last week’s message we were only able to make it through the first verse of Luke chapter 12. And based on the fact that Luke chapter 12 has 59 verses, it’s pretty easy to understand that if we continue on with this message at the same rate of progress as we did last week, it will be somewhere around the year 2000 before we even get to the end. And can you really imagine that? One full year talking about Amway?

Heaven forbid!!! But anyway, right now it’s about 8:30 Sunday morning and as you can see I’ve got a bunch more writing to do. In fact normally by this time we’ve already gotten at least four pages on paper, and even at that pace I end up getting to bed around midnight. So if I continue on at the normal rate you can figure that my head might hit the pillow somewhere close to the time I should be getting up... and that definitely ain’t no way to start off a Monday morning. So the only logical way I can get through with this sermonet on time is through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit... and that’s why I’m a praying Help Me Jesus!

Now as I was taking my shower this morning the TV just so happened to be turned to my favorite Baptist preacher out of Atlanta, Georgia. The program is called In Touch and of course the preacher is none other than the Dr. Charles Stanley. And seeing how I was still kinda like mentally moving just a little bit slow, what this preacher’s preaching did for me was exactly what I needed. You see he did me a great big favor by giving me an early morning kick start. He got me all fired up bright and early by making the statement that "the unpardonable sin" no longer exist. Can you even believe that? And I mean he said what he said without even blinking an eye. Because his excuse as to why he said what he said was that the Scripture in question pertained only to then, and this is now, and now and days everybody has the opportunity to be forgiven of their sins. So even though the Word of God says it can happen (blaspheme God: lose all chances of being forgiven), Dr. Stanley says it just ain’t so. He says no one in this day and age can actually get into a position with God where they can’t be forgiven!!!

And that’s about the time I ran out of the house throwing dirt in the air and screaming blasphemy!!! Well not really, but I sure did feel like it. I mean get real! Don’t these modern day preachers have any fear of the Almighty God, the Creator of the Universe? To tamper with the Word of God just so it will match up with their most holy religious denominational beliefs is nothing just short of blaspheming God... and it doesn’t even matter how many times they might say that it just ain’t so. They are going to find out for themselves just how real it really is on that one fine day at the judgment seat of Christ. Because unless some of these preachers change their preaching, I can pretty near guarantee you that the verdict given out to them during that last court hearing in Heaven ain’t a gonna be the one they are expecting to hear!

And of course this takes us right back to that very familiar topic of Religion!!!, Pharisees!!!, Hypocrites!!!, and What a mess!!! So reflecting back on last week’s message, the present day Words from The Father as found in the Words Of The Spirit: "I speak unto thee this day concerning, dead matter, for I say that I desire a living people and I say because I am the living God I desire a living people. I say I do not desire that my people would feed off of dead matter, for I would say that dead matter shall only bring forth death, and I say that those who shall eat of the same, shall not live, but they shall die... And though they may say with their lips that they are mine, I say if their hearts are far from me, and I say if they eat of those things which bring them unto death, I say they will die nevertheless. For I say that the ones who shall live in me are the ones who shall eat of me, and eat of the substance that I give them..."

You see it’s everywhere! Not only is it in the religion of Amway, but it’s even in the religion most people call the Church! And people are believing it’s lies, and that’s exactly why we read last week from Luke chapter12 verse 1, "In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he (Jesus) began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."

And that was about as far as we got with this Scripture that the Lord gave us to give to Mr. Rich DeVos and his Amway Corporation. So now that we made it through verse 1 why not let’s go a little bit further with verses 2-9: "For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God."

So who do you figure this "him" is? Who is the him who has the ability to throw anybody into the pit of Hell? Satan maybe? Nope! He ain’t the one because the him is "The Him" and He is "The One and Only God of all gods." God Almighty is the Only One who has the power and authority to lock up anyone in the burning fires of Hell. And of course the one of the many who will get those royal accommodations in God’s prison cell of everlasting torment is Old Splitfoot himself (Satan).

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves because we still have to figure out what the Lord is talking about in the very first sentence: "For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known." So it’s time to do a little flipping. Now flipping back to Mark chapter 4, and reading verses 1-25, we find: "And he (Jesus) began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land... And he said unto them. Unto you is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them."

So just what do you think Jesus was talking about? Do you really think that He was teaching in parables just so the lost wouldn’t be saved? Nope! You see a parable has two defined purposes... you might even say it’s ambidextrous (two handed). On the one hand it will save the lost but on the other hand it will only make the lost more lost. Because seeing how the Word of God (Jesus) is the Light of the world, it’s His Light that will likewise either light up the darkness (allow you to see the truth) or totally blind you to the Truth with it’s brightness. So for all those who are willing to believe what "thus saith the Lord" it will deliver them from the darkness of forever damnation... and of course the opposite holds true for all those who won’t believe.

And that’s why Jesus went on to finish up His teaching on the parable with, "And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath."

Don’t you just love the way Jesus spoke? I mean the facts are that if you want to understand what Jesus is talking about (what "thus saith the Lord), you must first have the desire to know Him and then follow it up with a whole lotta praying and searching of the Scriptures. Because the bottom line fact of this matter is that it just ain’t easy discovering the Whole Truth... but once you finally get it you’ve got it. But hold on because there’s still a catch to this whole thing. You see it’s just as the Scriptures say: you can have it one minute but yet lose it all the next. And just how might you ask can that happen?

Well it all goes back to "Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you". Because you see it’s just like Mr. Rich DeVos and Dr. Charles Stanley. At one point in time I’m pretty sure they probably knew the True Word of God. You might even go so far as to say "that was then and this is now." But, because of their commitment to their very own chosen religion, they have likewise chosen to believe only some of the things as found in the Word of God and not all of them. So you see what they do is to let the other things found in the Word of God get hid under the basket. In other words their religion doesn’t believe in letting ALL OF GOD’S LIGHT SHINE!!!... and therefore, just as Jesus said it so very clearly, in the end THE RESULTS WILL BE ETERNAL DARKNESS!!!

So are you starting to see where the Lord’s taking us with this Scripture? Well for those of you who don’t see it clearly hang on just a little bit longer; there’s still hope. Because as you will see, we are no where close to being through with this one yet. In fact we’re getting ready to do a little bit more flipping. So flipping back to Matthew 10:1-31, and reading, "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease... These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying... Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."

Now just in case some of you people out there don’t know it, a disciple is nothing more than (or less than for that matter) someone who follows Jesus Christ. And regardless of what some people might want to think, disciples do still walk the face of this earth... and I’m proud to say that I just so happen to be one of them. So seeing how I’m one of them, then these words of Jesus also apply to me. And they not only apply to my life but also all those who have a sincere desire to follow and serve God (disciples). And of course, seeing how that part of the verse is true in my life, then the rest of it is also true: "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."

So who do you think the wolves are? Well in actuality the wolves are the same as the snakes, and if you’ll just hold on for a few we’ll get to it very shortly. But first of all let’s finish the rest: "But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues... And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved... Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops."

Now didn’t that sound just a little bit familiar? Well flipping back to Luke 12:1-3, we can read it just one more time, "...Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops."

OK, so now we are about ready to take off. You see we’ve taken care of all the necessary preliminary preparations (thank you) and I think it’s now safe to say that we can like "burn it on down" for the next three pages. It’s called smoking it on down with the Word of God... and boy do I love it! Thank you Jesus!!!

Because you see where the Lord has been leading us with these messages on The President, The People, And The Religion is the same place that He’s leading us with this message for today... which just so happens to be the messy sticky stinking subject of "man made religion." And further more, it just so happens that the two of these man made religions that we are talking about right now are the religions of Amway (Amway Corporation) and of Dr. Charles Stanley (Baptist Corporation).

So what "thus saith the Lord" has to say on this subject of "man made religion" is "Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees." And likewise that’s the message He wants the FMH Children’s Club International to take throughout the entire world. And it’s because of the fact that He’s given us this job of messing with these Pharisees, that He’s also given us the rest of the Scripture to go along with it: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."

Now you see I have every right in the world to have fear inside my bones each and every week as we send out these fiery messages to the Phariseeical hypocrites of our present day and time. Because the same demonic spirit that overshadowed the denomination of the Pharisees way back then is likewise continuing to overshadow the religions of today (Amway, Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, etc., and etc.). And just so you can personally feel their cold slimy death, let me just give you a very brief rundown on Jesus’ very own dissertation on them (short, sweet, and to the point): "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"

And that in a nutshell was what Jesus thought about the Pharisees as found in Matthew 23:33. They were then, and they still are today, some very deadly critters to say the least. But in order to get a little more depth in our understanding of just why we should fear them, lets read on into verses 1-15, "Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.... But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the boarders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi... But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in... Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves."

So are you starting to get the picture just a little bit clearer? Well it’s a little past 3:45 PM and we have just enough time and paper to do a mini wrap up on what we’ve covered thus far. And just as a reminder, we are covering the Scripture as found in Luke chapter 12, because the Lord gave it to us in order to point out the errors within the Amway Corporation. And seeing how the main topic deals with what the Lord calls a hypocrite, what better time than now to better define just what that word means.

And reading from the Webster’s Dictionary, the word hypocrite means "a person who pretends to be what he is not; one who pretends to be better than he really is, or pious, virtuous, etc. without really being so." That’s what Webster’s says. But let’s take it a little bit further. A hypocrite is someone who does not act spontaneously from the heart but instead lays out a well thought out plan of how they might impress those who are watching. In other words when you see a hypocrite in their full glory you are seeing somebody who ain’t really who they are. And seeing how we are dealing with the religion of Amway, when it comes to the religious issues the hypocrite uses spiritual talk (words from the Bible) to make everyone else think they are of God (one of God’s children). But of course the hypocrite ain’t a child of God (they’re not even close), they don’t have a heart of God, and the only reason that they are even pretending to be one of them is so they can get a whole lot closer to the sheep (hungry wolves in sheep’s clothing).

And having said all that, let’s pick it back up with verse 1 of Luke 12: "In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he (Jesus) began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."

Now without a doubt, these words that we are laying down on this paper are what you might want to call bold. In fact they could very easily get just a few folks at Amway somewhat upset. And if what I’m saying is not the truth, then most certainly I could be in for some pretty embarrassing moments. But you see I don’t have to worry about that, because the Lord has already taken care of it in verses 2 and 3: "For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops."

Don’t you just love it? Ain’t God great! My Heavenly Father told me through His Holy Spirit exactly what I needed to know about Amway. You see as a walking talking fleshly human being I have no authority or ability to decide if those folks at Amway are truly hypocrites or not... but my Heavenly Father sure enough does. And seeing how He’s the one who gave me this information in the first place, then I have all the rights in the world (and in Heaven too for that matter) to shout the news for all the world to hear. But seeing how we’ve advanced quite a bit in this electronic age, my shouting certainly won’t be from the housetops but through the postal service and the Internet server instead.

Now even though God has told me what He wants me to say to these people at Amway, don’t you figure I ought to be just a little bit scared at the thought of doing it? I mean after all these people are operating one great big old money making machine. And seeing how most people like to have as much of that green stuff as possible, I can only imagine that certain folks could get just a little upset at just the thought of someone pulling the plug on their money making machine.

But have no fear because God the Father took care of that little problem too. You see in verses 4-7 He says, "And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."

Don’t you just love it!!! There is absolutely nothing that can compare to having the God of the Universe as your personal (very own) Father! I mean He is actually right here with me, leading me on every step of the way, as I continue on deeper and deeper into this very dark and dangerous mission. But... even though He has personally given me the words to say, and even though He has personally given me the go ahead to tell the whole world all about it, there was still some fear within me that resulted in the 99 very good reasons why I shouldn’t be doing this in the first place... and even though He has already told me to fear not!

But it was right about that point in time when verses 8 and 9 came in real handy. You see these verses gave me 1 (one) real good reason why the 99 real good reasons were no longer real good reasons: "Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God." And for the benefit of all you short timers (new folks), the word "denieth" kinda like comes into play when it’s time for God the Father to finalize the adoption process. Because the facts are that if you haven’t been doing the confessing that He’s been asking you to do, then He’s going to throw out one of those "depart from me, I’ve never known you" sort of things at just the wrong moment. And believe you me it’s while standing at the judgment throne of God that nobody in their right mind would even want to think about those roaring flames of Hell ... much less experience them for all eternity.

So this is what the Lord gave me to give Amway, and likewise this is what the Lord thinks about these man made religions... but yet this nation of ours is so very very full of them... and they just continue to get bigger and bigger day by day. So who’s trying to stop them? Well the Word of God tells us that we will never stop them completely, but at least we can warn what few are willing to listen. And that’s exactly what we’ve been called to do... and likewise that’s exactly what we’re doing... and of course we are only doing it through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Wow! Talk about smoking, my brain feels as though it’s been totally fried. It’s called putting it into overdrive with no thought of using the brakes. And to think that we didn’t even get to the place in the Scripture that addresses Dr. Charles Stanley’s sin of saying "the unpardonable sin" no longer exist. Oh well, I guess we’ll just have to save that one for next week’s message. But looking back on what we have accomplished today, it’s been only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we have finished this sermonet. Without a doubt we have done something that was impossible to be done through my own strengths and abilities. So as of 6:45 PM we are shutting this one down just in time to get it in the Monday morning mail. Thank You Jesus!

Ain’t it great to be able to depend on the Holy Spirit to see you through. Nothing is impossibly through God Almighty. Trust in Him, give Him all the glory, and Keep on keeping The Faith In Jesus!!!

Love,

Dad (Bruce Hallman)