Bøger af Jay Leach

It has often been expressed that the primary leadership of the Reformation [Restoration] did not go far enough in their restoration of the New Testament Church. Martin Luther got it right on how we are saved [justification]. "The just shall live by faith" (Galatians 3:11), was one of the revelatory truths of God's Word that rallied the Reformers. We praise God for the reformer John Wycliffe who believed that the people should be able to read the Bible in their own language; and by the grace of God, he worked hard to get the truth of God's Word into the hands and hearts of the masses. That is an on-going mission which must be repeated in each new generation. Notice, within a half century after the Reformation began the church was in crisis, because it misunderstood that justification or salvation is of God by grace through faith alone - the believers who came out of the Medieval or Dark Ages were taught that sanctification [spiritual maturity] was accomplished through works of the flesh. They were constantly reminded how much their relationship with God depended on their works. The sad news is many local churches continue to practice this pre-Reformation church model of ministry to this day. That theological error has come full circle today. The results are witnessed in every city, town and village of America as citizens, who have chosen to no longer believe God is relevant, but that He no longer loves and cares, that He created the world and left it to feign for itself (Deism). Add to that the many local churches that rely upon legalism, performance of the flesh, and feelings (entertainment), rather than upon God's grace alone through the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit and Word of God working in tandem. The Spirit leads, guides, and teaches the restored truths of the Gospel of Grace. Teachers were raised up during the Reformation to help Christians know what they believed and why they believed it. Today, God is continuing to meet that need by raising up desperately needed Spiritually-gifted and bold apologetic teachers for that very purpose in these last days (see 2 Timothy 2:2). The Bread of Life Ministries and Bible Institute along with thousands of Para ministries across America and around the world are established and Spirit-led for "such a time as this." Magdalene and I were led of the Spirit to establish the Bread of Life Ministries 25 years ago specifically to equip the saints (disciples) for that purpose. If the churches would return to their Christ-given mission, biblical world view and teaching ministries, millions would be saved, disciple and brought into the kingdom of God with the continued commitment to do the same!

THE UNHEALTHY CHURCH CULTURE Many believers are distraught concerning what they witness going on in their local Black churches today. Ezekiel experienced similar conditions in Israel in his day. The Scripture says, the Israelites were still living in sin and trusting in their own righteousness. God told Ezekiel, "And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say, but they will not do it, for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on gain. And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it." (Ezekiel 33:31-32 ESV). The exiles had claimed to go to the prophet to receive God's revelation, but their behavior was not in compliance with their stated beliefs and values. Their true desire was for entertainment - but not for divine enlightenment. If the fall of Jerusalem failed to spiritually awaken them, nothing would. Yet it would open their eyes to the divine truth of Ezekiel's preaching! As the church, we must call all cultures along with ourselves in every generation to the rule that judges all other rules - the rule of faith, the Holy Bible! Hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

Paul calls the Galatian Christians foolish! Having begun in the Spirit, are now being perfected by the flesh (see Galatians 3:1-3). Legalism and religion do not trust in the finished work of Christ and the efficacy of His blood to produce His intended results. Therefore, they always appeal to the flesh, teaching to control people through behavior modification, which make those pastors who yield to this model, not shepherds per se, but mere sin managers. The only force capable of restoring America's local Churches in whatever areas need restoring is the Spirit of God animating the Word of God rightly divided, preached, and taught defining and biblically shaping and motivating the spiritual life of the body of Christ.