ARE YOU ONE OF THE FEARFUL?
Written in 2009
by Tony Alamo
aka Bernie Hoffman
The Apostle Paul mentioned Hermogenes and Phygellus, who were disciples in Asia Minor, as having deserted him (2 Timothy 1:15). The reason for this desertion was without doubt caused by their fear of the perils of being associated with Paul and his persecutions.
Saul, whose name became Paul after his conversion, was a possession and tool of the devil. He assisted in the death of Stephen who was doing “great wonders and miracles among the people” in the name of JESUS (Acts 6:8).1 The learned members of the foreign synagogues endeavored to refute Stephen’s teachings about JESUS by argument and uproar. As the Cilician synagogue is mentioned among them, we can readily believe that Saul was one of them. If not an assistant, Saul was something more than a mere spectator, because “the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul” (Acts 7:58).
After Stephen was killed and buried, Saul continued his persecution of the church, as he tells us again and again in his own speeches and epistles. He began ravaging the church, invading the sanctuaries of domestic life, entering house after house. Those whom he took from their homes, he committed to prison. And not only did men suffer at his hands, but women also. This was a fact repeated three times showing the extent of his cruelty (Acts 8:3). These persecuted Christians were even punished in the synagogues (Acts 26:11).
Stephen was not the only one to suffer death, as we may infer from the Apostle’s own confession: “I persecuted this way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons.... Also when they were being put to death, I cast my vote against them” (Acts 22:4, 26:10). Saul even endeavored to cause them “to blaspheme” (Acts 26:11). His fame as an inquisitor was notorious far and wide. Even at Damascus, Ananias had heard “how much harm” he had done to CHRIST’S saints at Jerusalem (Acts 9:13). It was not without reason that he reaped some of what he had sown throughout his life in the LORD.2 In his later years, he never forgot how he had “persecuted the church of GOD beyond measure” (Galatians 1:13).3
During Paul’s ministry, he was able to go through horrible persecutions because the fear of the LORD was upon him. Paul never forgot how JESUS appeared to him on the road to Damascus and asked him why he was persecuting HIM.4 JESUS appeared and spoke to one who never thought HE existed. When this happened to me, I was terrified because HIS SPIRIT revealed some of the many sins of my life. I can imagine how fearful it was for this man who had done such evil to so many saints of GOD.
Paul had to abide in the LORD and consistently walk in communion with the HOLY SPIRIT to keep himself strong and steadfast. We all do!5 He had to remember how the LORD had completely changed his mind and his heart. He became a new creature in CHRIST JESUS, and so can you, but never forget the pit the LORD pulled you out of.6
Why do you think so many people have fallen away from following the LORD JESUS CHRIST, from Christianity? Why will so many people (professing Christians) spend eternity in Hell?7 Do you think that Christians begin throwing in the towel because persecution has become so intense? They can become fearful that their children will be taken away from them and they will never see them again. The government told members of my church that this will happen if they don’t leave my church, abandon their beliefs, get secular jobs, and put their kids into public schools. The alternative was to be slandered by them like me, go to prison like me, or be murdered, like they are planning to do to me, Pastor Tony Alamo.
Now the government is saying they, my congregation, can go to other churches, the ones that are fearful, the ones that refuse to deny themselves, the ones who refuse to take up their crosses and pay the price of a fully committed Christian. Christians who forsook Paul, like Hermogenes and Phygellus, are in these churches today by the millions. They are fearful, and don’t believe GOD’S WORD which states that HE will condemn all who disobey HIM.
So, to please the devil, through the voice of Satan (the mainstream media)8 and the Vatican’s world-wide government control, they “shall deliver you [and me] up to be afflicted, and shall murder you [and me]: and you [and I] shall be hated of all nations for MY [JESUS’] name’s sake. And then shall many be offended [at the price they have to pay to enter Heaven, the ultimatum given them by every branch of the devil’s Roman Catholic government.9 Therefore, they] shall betray one another [with very slanderous lies, and because I tell them these things] they shall hate one another [myself included].”
The LORD JESUS forewarned us, “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity [sin] shall be so abundant, the love of many [the keeping of GOD’S commandments] shall wax cold. But he that shall endure to the end [tragically, not many10], the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye shall therefore see the abomination of desolation [the abomination that maketh desolate, that makes the whole earth a wilderness (Isaiah 14:16-17)] spoken of by Daniel the prophet, then stand in the holy place [in the HOLY SPIRIT, in salvation]” (Matthew 24:9-15).
“And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for MY name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:21-22).
Now if anyone other than the LORD had predicted these things, I wouldn’t pay attention to them, but this is the LORD, and these very things are happening now! If you’re not living a godly life in CHRIST JESUS, you really are not aware of these things because they are spiritually understood.11 If you are really living as the LORD says we must, you realize what’s going on and how close we are to the return of JESUS. It is soon to get much worse. Prepare your heart for sorrow before it’s too late! Eternity in the kingdom of Heaven will be more than worth the price we will pay for a few short years (1 Corinthians 2:9).
“For then shall be great tribula-tion, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).
Much of the trouble that the brave and unshakeable Christians are having and will continue to have is because of the people who were once saved, but then became fearful of man. They lost their fear of the LORD and abandoned their first love.12 After their refusal to repent, GOD turns them over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28). All the fearful of man shall spend eternity in the Lake of Fire, but the bold and the brave, like Daniel and the three Hebrew children, shall spend eternity in Heaven. So exhort one another the more, as ye see the day of the LORD approaching.
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the SON of MAN coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:25-28).
“But the fearful [of man], and unbelieving [those who don’t believe the LORD, the WORD of GOD13], and the abominable, and murderers [murder includes abortions], and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolators, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).
Those who have been born again of the SPIRIT of GOD and then returned back into their old lives of sin must repent and return to the LORD for the time is short. “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the SON of GOD, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the SPIRIT of grace? For we know HIM that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto ME, I will recompense, saith the LORD. And again, the LORD shall judge HIS people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living GOD” (Hebrews 10:26-31).
Build up your faith by studying the WORD of GOD.14 This way, when you’re full of faith, you will NOT punk out when put to the test! We will all go through tremendous trials in the coming days, but JESUS said HE will never leave nor forsake HIS own and HE promised to be with us always, unto the end of the world.15 JESUS loves each one of us so much that HE willingly laid down HIS life and was crucified for us.16 HE shed sinless blood as an atonement for our sins. We must acknowledge our sins and completely turn away from the old life that leads to Hell. JESUS is knocking at the door of your heart, ready to save you.
Repent of your sins and begin a new life of holiness with the SAVIOR of the world now by saying this prayer:
Prayer
My LORD and my GOD, have mercy upon my soul, a sinner. 1 I believe that JESUS CHRIST is the SON of the living GOD. 2 I believe that HE died on the cross and shed HIS precious blood for the forgiveness of all my former sins. 3 I believe that GOD raised JESUS from the dead by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT 4 and that HE sits on the right hand of GOD at this moment, hearing my confession of sin and this prayer. 5 I open up the door of my heart, and I invite YOU into my heart, LORD JESUS. 6 Wash all of my filthy sins away in the precious blood that YOU shed in my place on the cross at Calvary. 7 YOU will not turn me away, LORD JESUS; YOU will forgive my sins and save my soul. I know because YOUR WORD, the Bible, says so. 8 YOUR WORD says that YOU will turn no one away, and that includes me. 9 Therefore, I know that YOU have heard me, and I know that YOU have answered me, and I know that I am saved. 10 And I thank YOU, LORD JESUS, for saving my soul, and I will show my thankfulness by doing as YOU command and sin no more.11
After salvation, JESUS said to be baptized, fully submerged in water, in the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY SPIRIT.12 Then study the King James Version Bible, and, for your benefit and the benefit of others, do what it says.13
CHRIST and GOD the FATHER now live in you through the HOLY SPIRIT. There is a way you can receive a fuller portion of the divine nature of GOD in you. The more the divine nature of GOD lives in you, the more you will be able to stand against the temptations that have so easily moved so many millions of Christians away from salvation. Pray for the baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT.14 For instructions on how to receive the baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT and to receive more of GOD’S holy nature, ask for our literature or call. For without holiness, no man shall see GOD (Hebrews 12:14).
The LORD wants you to tell others of your salvation (Mark 16:15). You can become a distributor of Pastor Tony Alamo’s Gospel literature. We’ll send you literature free of charge. Call or email us for more information. Share this message with someone else.
If you want the world saved, as JESUS commands, then don’t rob GOD of HIS tithes and offerings. GOD said, “Will a man rob GOD? Yet ye have robbed ME. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed THEE? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed ME, even this whole nation [and this whole world]. Bring ye all the tithes [a ‘tithe’ is 10% of your gross income] into the storehouse, that there may be meat [Spiritual food] in MINE house [souls saved], and prove ME now herewith, saith the LORD of HOSTS, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of HOSTS. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of HOSTS” (Malachi 3:8-12).
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footnotes:
1. Acts 6:9-15, chap. 7 return
3. Eph. 3:8, 1 Tim. 1:12-13 return
5. John 15:4-7, Gal. 5:16-25, 6:8, Eph. 6:10-18, Col. 2:6-15, 1 John 2:15-17 return
6. Isa. 51:1, 2 Cor. 5:17, Eph. chap. 2return
7. Matt. 7:21-23, 25:1-13, Luke 13:23-28 return
8. Dan. 7:7-8, 23-25, Rev. 12:15-17, 13:1-7, 11 return
9. Dan. 2:28-43, 8:8-12, 16-26, 11:15-45, Rev. chap. 13, 14:8-11, chaps. 17-18 return
10. Matt. 7:13-14 Luke 13:23-28 return
12. Deut. 6:1-2, 10:12, 31:11-13, 1 Sam. 12:23-24, Mal. 3:5, Matt. 10:28, Rev. 2:1-5 return
13. John 1:1-3, 14, 1 John 1:1-3, Rev. 19:13 return
14. Deut. 17:15-20, Josh. 1:8, Matt. 4:4, John 8:31-32, 15:3-7, Acts 20:32, Eph. 6:11-17, Col. 3:16, 2 Thes. 2:15, 2 Tim. 2:15, 3:14-17, James 1:21, 1 Pet. 2:2 return
15. Matt. 28:20, Heb. 13:5 return
16. Isa. chap. 53, Mark 15:16-39, John 19:16-37 return
Prayer footnotes:
1. Psa. 51:5, Rom. 3:10-12, 23 return
2. Matt. 26:63-64, 27:54, Luke 1:30-33, John 9:35-37, Rom. 1:3-4 return
3. Acts 4:12, 20:28, Rom. 3:25, I John 1:7, Rev. 5:9 return
4. Psa. 16:9-10, Matt. 28:5-7, Mark 16:9, 12, 14, John 2:19, 21, 10:17-18, 11:25, Acts 2:24, 3:15, Rom. 8:11, I Cor. 15:3-7 return
5. Luke 22:69, Acts 2:25-36, Heb. 10:12-13 return
6. I Cor. 3:16, Rev. 3:20 return
7. Eph. 2:13-22, Heb. 9:22, 13:12, 20-21, I John 1:7, Rev. 1:5, 7:14 return
8. Matt. 26:28, Acts 2:21, 4:12, Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14 return
9. Matt. 21:22, John 6:35, 37-40, Rom. 10:13 return
10. Heb. 11:6 return
11. John 5:14, 8:11, Rom. 6:4, I Cor. 15:10, Rev. 7:14, 22:14 return
12. Matt. 28:18-20, John 3:5, Acts 2:38, 19:3-5 return
13. Deut. 4:29, 13:4, 26:16, Josh. 1:8, 22:5, 2 Tim. 2:15, 3:14-17, James 1:22-25, Rev. 3:18 return
14. Isa. 28:11-12, Joel 2:28-29, Luke 3:16, 11:9-13, John 1:29-34, 7:37-39, 14:15-29, 15:26, 16:7-14, Acts 1:1-8, 2:1-18, 32-39, 5:29-32, 19:1-7, Rom. 5:3-5, 15:13 return