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strange woman

Jan 01 2015
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The Harlot Church (Part 2)

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Last month’s article was the first of a two part teaching on what I refer to as the Harlot Church. Before I get started, I just want to remind you that in the Old Testament, Egypt is a type of the world and Israel is a type of the church. The strange woman or harlot that is found in the portions of scripture in Proverbs chapters 2, 5 and 7, represents a type of the church that has fornicated with the world and committed spiritual adultery. Remember also, that the church is referred to as the bride of Christ. Therefore, the term harlot applies to that bride who has committed adultery against Christ. This harlot church is alive and well in America. This article, though to some it can come off as very critical, was written to warn you and help you identify this harlot church system so you can see how critical it is to stay far away as possible from her seductive power.

“And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. 11(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: 12Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)” Proverbs 7:10-12. The harlot church presents herself very seductively. She dims the lights and turns on the smoke machines. Song leaders and musicians are more concerned about putting on a professional show then they are pleasing the audience, who they have forgotten is God. One sister in Christ told me that years ago she went to a seminar on leading worship. She was told by the teacher “When you are on the platform singing, you should not be getting caught up in worship, but instead you should be looking at the people and making eye contact with them.” Evidently, the people must not be getting caught up in the worship either that they would be looking at the singers.

The “attire of a harlot” is provocative and sensual, and is meant to catch the attention and overwhelm the senses of the foolish. The harlot church also makes herself look attractive to this world by adorning herself with programs and entertainment that captivate the senses of man instead of minister to his spirit. She tries to find the ways that best appeal to the flesh. Don’t forget what Jude said, when he spoke of our day, “These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit” (Jude 1:19). The harlot church appeals to the senses, the true church appeals to the spirit. The harlot church promotes self, the true church denies self.

As the strange woman “lieth in wait at every street corner,” so too does the harlot church. there seems to be a decline in churches that hold to the truth and walk in the simplicity of Christ, we have these harlot churches springing up all over the place. They are the ones undiscerning, simple people flock to. Adding to the problem, many churches who were once faithful, are now fornicating with this world. You can see why there is such a lack of true Spirit filled churches. Brethren, if you discover that you are in one of these harlot churches, you need to come out from amongst her. Find a church that preaches and loves the truth. If God, in the days of Elijah, had 7,000 that have not bowed the knee to Baal, I am certain God has set apart for himself an assembly of like-minded, truth loving, Spirit filled believers who you can fellowship with. If you can’t find such a church, pray for God to raise one up.

“So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,” Proverbs 7:13

The harlot church works at creating an experience. She has conceived many ways to cater to and captivate those who lack understanding and discernment. That experience has the same seductive feeling as a kiss from a harlot does. It is captivating, it is sensual and can even give you goose bumps, but if you give into it, it will overwhelm you and overcome you. Saints, walk in the Spirit, not in the soulish realm.

“I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. 15Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. 16I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. 17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.” Proverbs 7:14-18

The harlot church maintains some form of religion. She makes her peace offerings and keeps her vows, but not the vow of faithfulness to God. She has adorned her house with the finest things of this world to attract multitudes of people. She calls out to everyone, come and enjoy what we have fashioned just for you. Come and enjoy the love.

“For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: 20He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.” Proverbs 7:19-20

A sermon on the practical things in life is what you hear preached at a harlot church. Christ is not preeminent, for He is no longer home. The harlot church tries to equip you for a carnal life lived now and only now. There is no mention of the day of the Lord; there is no anticipation for the rapture. The affections of the harlot church are centered on things below, not on things above. They don’t warn anyone to watch and pray, for they say in their heart, “my Lord delayeth His coming.”

“With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. 22He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; 23Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. 24Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.” Proverbs 7:21-24

There are many saints who know they are in a harlot church. They think that they can remain there and say like Samson, “I will go out as at other time before, and shake myself.” At one time they would have had the discernment to know better than to let Delilah play with their hair. If you remain in compromise too long, then the destruction will come suddenly, like a dart through the liver and a bird going to the snare. Hearken oh saints of God, to the call to come out from amongst her.

“For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. 27Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.” Proverbs 7:26-27

Have you ever heard the saying, “Christians kill their wounded?” Personally, I hate that saying. Real Christians have compassion and help heal and restore their wounded. It is the harlot church that casts down the wounded. The harlot church can even take down the strong. Don’t ever consider yourself beyond falling. You may know of a few ministers, who at one time seemed to have had an anointing, but since have lost it. They were once bold enough to call out sin, but now they tell everyone that they are alright. They once loved the truth, but since have embraced the harlot and have been seduced and deceived by her. Yes, “many strong men have been slain by her.”

Jan 01 2015
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The Harlot Church

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It was in May of 2005 when I first heard the phrase “harlot church” peached in a sermon. I had evangelist, David Owens at my church for several days of revival meetings. He preached about the harlot church of our day in one of his messages and my youngest son Aaron was so enlightened by the word that he experienced a true heaven sent revival. Today, Aaron serves as an evangelist and labors with me as we travel our state encouraging and uniting the remnant believers.

This topic of the harlot church, which this article is about, is a hard message, and it may anger you to hear me say the things that I am going to say. But it is worth the risk, because it is a message every believer must hear.

The harlot church is revealed to us in Proverbs chapters 2:16-19, 5:3-6 and 7:5-27. Since I have to keep this article somewhat brief I will write it in two parts. My intention is to give you an overall view of who and what this harlot church is of our generation so you can see her and run from her, just as Joseph ran from Potiphar’s wife.

Let’s start with Proverbs 2:16-19; “To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; 17Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. 18For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 19None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life [all emphasis mine].”

Verse 16 starts by telling us about the “strange woman,” even the “stranger.” Who is this strange woman? Who is this stranger? The Hebrew for this woman described here, has a few meanings such as, she is foreign, profane, a non relative, adulterous, different and even wonderful. This strange woman is what I am referring to as the harlot church. The harlot church is a church system that commits spiritual adultery against the Lord and has seductive power just as a prostitute does to the sex crazed man. The easy believism and the mega church mentality of our day, is the harlot church of our day. The book of Proverbs says she has turned away from the right direction; she has forgotten about her God. She is sensual and flattering. She allures sinners and saints alike into her sensual ways. Those fallen prey can’t help but look at her and call her wonderful. But her ways are foreign to the true bride of Christ. There is no real relationship between her and Christ.

The harlot church desires and promotes something different because she no longer is, if she ever was, satisfied with the love of Christ. Her way is death, do not go unto her. But many have. If you wonder why some Christians you know remain in that harlot church system, then verse nineteen reveals why: They have gone unto her and there is no returning. They have grown so comfortable with her because she never challenges and she never judges. She is an adulteress and willingly receives and accommodates all those that come unto her. She has a seducing power that deceives those influenced by her. Brethren, if you know of saints that are in this harlot church system and have been captivated by her, do not give up on them. Pray that God will open their eyes and bring them out from amongst her. Maybe you cannot talk them out of her arms but nothing is impossible for God. Pray fervently that God will yet rescue those remnant believers out of the embrace of that strange woman.

Proverbs 5:3-4; continues to emphasize how smooth and alluring the harlot church is, but also warns that if you go that way, your end will be bitter as wormwood. “For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.”

Moving on to chapter seven of Proverbs, we encounter this strange woman, the harlot church again. “That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words [emphasis mine].” Proverbs 5:7. This is the second of three times that we learn that one of the main techniques the harlot church uses is flattery. The harlot church will mail out surveys to learn what best will attract people to their church. She creates programs suited to appease the interest of those who attend. She flatters the crowds with enticing words. The preachers of these churches work hard at finding the right words to say as not to offend or challenge anyone. The preachers are motivational speakers who lack a baptism of Spirit and fire. I heard of one church telling a visiting evangelist not to use the word “sin” because it makes the people too uncomfortable. In the harlot church, the message that “God loves you,” which no doubt is a true message, is taken to the extreme level. They make everything about fulfilling your good pleasure. Many of you know of a popular pastor that wrote a book, Seven Steps to a Better You. The problem with that book is that the “YOU” must die, not get better. The harlot church promotes you, but the true church promotes Christ.

“And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, 8Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, 9In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night [emphasis mine]:” Proverbs 7:7-9. The words “simple ones” means silly (that is seducible). These simple ones can be Christians who don’t take their walk with the Lord serious. They don’t maintain a life of prayer and meditation upon the word of God. They don’t stay in fellowship with mature believers. They go about their walk with the Lord in a careless manner and thus are void of understanding. These kinds of believers are easy prey for the strange woman whose intention is to seduce them to go to her house.

“And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. 11(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: 12Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)” Proverbs 7:10-12. The harlot church presents herself very seductively. She dims the lights and turns on the smoke machines. Song leaders and musicians are more concerned about putting on a professional show for the crowd than they are pleasing the audience, who they forgot is God. One sister in Christ told me that years ago she went to a seminar for those involved in a worship team. She was told by the teacher that when you are on the platform singing, you should not be getting caught up in worship, but instead you should be looking at the people and making eye contact with them. Evidently, the people are not getting caught up in the worship either that they would be watching the singers.