Author: Reed, Dennis

As long as we have “sound churches” with brethren in them “who don’t have a clue”, then we are going to lose ground to Satan on a daily basis! As long as we have preachers who, for whatever reason, are not joining the front line of battle against this encroaching enemy, then Satan’s forces will continue to surround and destroy one church after another because of their ignorance and complacency.

No, brethren, we cannot have fellowship with anyone who is associated with either teaching or practicing iniquity – no matter who they are, no matter where they live, and no matter where they worship or where they preach! We cannot receive him when he doesn’t bring the teaching of Christ (2 John 9-11), and we cannot fellowship him when he disregards scriptural warnings and continues to be involved in the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:1-14)!

Sadly to say, we have far too many of brethren who are in the complacency and apathy stages. They are becoming more and more dependent upon their “teachers” and “leaders”, many of whom are most adept at deception, and they are well on the road to the bondage of embracing false teaching and sinful practices. Passivism can and will lead those being deceived into the judgment of God unprepared to give account for their souls!

I shall never forget the beloved brother who said to me, “you can charge it, and charge it, and charge it, and it will still be dead!” Brethren, are you and I reacting to God’s Truth as if we were like a battery with a dead cell?

Brethren, I am truly concerned that instruction and edification are fleeting values among God’s people. Bible knowledge and conviction is being viewed as unnecessary! Churches are having less preaching by doing away with Sunday evening services all over the country – will Wednesday evening be the next fatality? What are you and I doing to turn this around? Whatever it takes, and I am persuaded that you can mark it down, that the instruction and edification which will be needed is not going to be accomplished by sweet little fifteen or twenty minute sermons!

We must have the determination that we will not be a part of this so-called “neutral” generation (Matthew 12:30)! The night is far spent and the day is at hand – it is now time to wake up, stand up, and speak up for Truth (Romans 13: 11-14) (1 Thessalonians 5: 4-11)! You and I are the Lord’s messengers and servants – is He able to count on us?

We not only are lacking in knowledge of the Bible in our generation, we are also lacking in a respect for the teaching of God’s Word and a lack of willingness to stand up and be counted to defend the Truth and expose error! The Bible tells us “and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them; for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of. But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light.” (Ephesians 5:11-13). We should take advantage of every medium of information which will help us determine the difference between light and darkness – including email and the internet. It is my plea that we will not let anyone discourage us from free and open investigation.

It is my sincere plea that you will open the scriptures as you honestly and objectively read the sermons which were preached in Palatka, Florida over forty years ago. The Truth will always stand the test of examination. Those of whom it is said: “…they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved…” (II Thessalonians 2:10) will sadly come to know that “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31).

My friends, we are going to be judged by the Law of God. We cannot blame God because we are dull of hearing or because we say that His Word is beyond our ability to grasp. It is ME, not God, who is responsible to know the Truth and be made free. Every one of us are responsible to have our “…senses exercised to discern good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14).