Is Tim Delello A Follower Of Anderson, Spurgeon, Calvin, MacAurthur, Hyles, etc?

 The simple answer is wholeheartedly - NO. I do not follow any of these men. It is the responsibility of you, the reader, to ask me questions about what I believe and teach and not rely on what the internet or other people claim that I am. I study my Bible and I constantly challenge myself on what I believe. I am constantly analyzing what I have said or done and how I could do it better. 

If you believe everything you read on the internet you shouldn't be in the office or position you are in. I am NOT a follower of anyone. I am unaffiliated. I am not part of a denomination or a camp. I may have similar doctrines that so and so has but I am not to be held accountable for them and they are not accountable for me. I am an INDEPENDENT, FUNDAMENTAL, UNAFFILIATED BAPTIST. 

(Please forgive the overemphasis) 

It Has Been A Year...

 Jesus spoke a parable in response to people asking about the current events surrounding the blood of the Galileans that Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. Many were questioning whether this the end. The answer Christ gave was measured against their persons rather than against the misfortune or injustice on others. Christ responded with more current events referring to the souls which perished when the Tower of Siloam fell. He asks if they were exceedingly sinful above the sinners in Jerusalem. Jesus then uses the parable that I was called to remember last night in my sleep. 

Luke 13:6-9

6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

That is the end of the parable. To us we know there is more. To those gathered around they didn't have the bible as we have it today. So, When Christ spoke these words they weren't misapplied. There was not a hidden message. Jesus was speaking to them directly. He was using an illustration that struck the chord in their hearts. There was no doubt that he was referring to their lack of repentance. He previously stated this in the verses dealing with the fallen tower and killed Galileans. 

A fig tree had been planted and it was not producing fruit although it had good ground and good seed. The tree failed to yield fruit. It was without excuse. The man didn't blame the Dresser. He didn't blame the soil. He didn't blame the crows or the weather. He blamed the tree. He didn't question the work ethic of the vinedresser. He didn't question the times they were in. He blamed the tree. 

The Tree was given everything necessary to produce fruit. The Dresser, knowing the vineyard having been in it for years, intervened and asked if he could do some more detailed work on the tree. He would cultivate the soil. He would fertilize it. He wanted to give it another year. The owner wanted to destroy the tree so it would not cumber the ground any further. Isn't it sad that the tree was less valuable than dirt?)

We see that the tree was given an extension of life. The Dresser had a year to dig it and dung it before it was discarded. Make no mistake when we read this; it wasn;t going to be transplanted into another field for a few years. The tree was going to be broken off and burned in the fire. It was going to be refused. There was no coming back to this unprofitable tree. 

Fast forward a year from this time. Jesus made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The people thronged the way waving palm branches, laying their coats on the ground and cheering 'Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed be the kingdom of our father David. Hosanna in the highest.' 

Jesus entered into Jerusalem, looked around upon all things, and went out with his disciples unto Bethany (Mark 11.) 

THE NEXT DAY, Jesus saw the fig tree afar off and having leaves, he came, haply. 

Haply means (by chance, luck, on accident) 

Jesus had surveyed the parable of the fig tree the day before. The same crowd that escorted him in with pomp and circumstance went back about their day. There was leaves. There was activity. There was no fruit. It was just a burdensome tree. It cumbered the ground and was a waste of potential. Jesus cursed the tree. No man would EVER eat fruit of that fig tree ever again. It wasn't seasonal. It as a severed end. That tree was done. That tree had failed to do its job. That tree was a false flag. It should have had fruit since it had leaves. Even if it wasn't time for the fig season. 

Jesus entered into Jerusalem, the same city that celebrated his coming the day before, and they were short cutting the sacrifices, desecrating the temple, and dishonoring God with their dishonesty. Jesus put an end to all of this. The Scribes and Pharisees heard of it and they sought how they might destroy Christ. They feared Christ not because of his person but because of his presumed popularity with the people. 

As Christ walked back out of the city on the way back to Bethany, Peter noticed the cursed fig tree and how it was withered away. Jesus tells them to have faith in God. The third entry into the city Christ was met with oppositon. The first entry Christ had faced involvement. The second day Christ had faced indifference. The third day Christ faced indignation. HOW DARE he over throw the figless tree? How dare he dig it and dung it? By whose authority did he do these things? 

Jesus goes on with more parables of a rented out vineyard and men who killed the owner's son. He was asked about Political affiliation; Christ rejected political affiliation. He IS KING of Kings. He was asked about heritage and lineage. Christ IS THE SEED. HE was asked about so many rapid fire questions to try and put him into a corner. Jesus at last departs Jerusalem overlooking the city and cries out a lamenting proclamation against them. A cry of despair, dereliction and destruction. It was being thrown into the fire. He had given the people another year. 

My friend; it has been a year. You have all things pertaining to life and godliness. Got figs? 

If God spared not the natural branches; what makes you think he will spare you? 

Abide in him and he in you - bring forth much fruit. 

Everything But What The Text Says

 I have an estranged friend who has cut off fellowship with me because of my Eschatological belief. He considers me a cultist. I still consider him a friend and often pray for his family, health, and his Christian walk. He can take a passage of scripture, count the number of words in it. compare it to some mathematical equation and find the number three or 7 in any passage. He can tell you the number of verses, words, chapters, paragraphs, jots and tittles in the Bible. It is something to see. He can tell you the history behind the verses. He can draw parallels to the illustrations, he can even tell you what preacher preached on the topic recently out if his vast selection of online resources. He is mesmerizing. Something he cannot do as well is to allow the passage to tell you exactly what is being said. What does the Bible say? What does it mean? How does it apply to my life? 

Imagine with me we are in a dark room. There is no light to be seen except for a red lettered illuminating sign above the door. WOW. Great imagination! I can see it too. Ok, what does that sign say? I am not asking what it does not say. I am asking what does the sign say? E X I T. 

This means that this is the exit. While some will grope around in the darkness and clawing at the walls trying to provide their own way of escape; someone has provided a designated way out. It is called an EXIT. That way out is clearly and boldly identified by the illuminated letters giving hope to those struggling and stumbling in the dark. 

It is not condescending. it is not inferring that someone is less intelligent or incapable of one day finding the exit as they bump into things. It is merely stating that this is a designated exit. E X I T. That is it. That is what it is clearly stating. 

What does it mean? It means that someone involved in the construction of the building knew that one day there would be a power outage or a fire. some urgent need to find the exit. They knew there would be no light source from the outside since there are no windows. They knew that people would one day need to find a portal out of the danger they were in. They knew people normally do not embrace physical darkness. Nobody who faces diminishing eye sight rejoices that they will soon lose their sight. Last night I was in a large building when the power went out. It was dark. My heart skipped a beat as I sat startled for a split second. I began formulating a plan of how I would safely secure my possessions and escort my two girls to safety. I heard in the darkness "where is the exit?" Imagine that. Someone wanted to see E X I T above a physical means of escape. It also means that there is not a way to climb out from the ceiling or tools to dig a hole in the wall from the inside. If someone was going to escape this dark room it would have to be through the EXIT. 

How does it apply to our life? 

Hey, genius! USE THE EXIT. WALK TOWARDS THE GLOWING RED SIGN. FIND THE DOOR AND ESCAPE. 

Ok, so, did i really just write a blog about an exit sign? Kind of. 

The Bible tells us that we are going face sudden impending danger and darkness. A darkness that wages war against the saints. A darkness that seeks to destroy. It seeks to persecute all who do not embrace its wickedness. Yes, I am speaking of Antichrist. He will force marks upon the forehead and hand of all those who conduct according to his government, religion and economy. There will be a righteous remnant who have already been marked. They have the mark of God upon their hearts and head. The earth will not be hurt until God marks his own. You are either going to take the mark of the beast or you will have the mark of God. YOU are NOT EVER your own. You are not a free entity. You are either a servant of God or a slave to sin. 

The way of escape is not a secret gentile door. It is Christ Jesus. We are not appointed unto wrath. (I Thess 5:9) The wrath of God is slowly yet exceedingly and purposefully tilted and will be poured out upon unrighteousness. Have you found your exit? 

Should I follow The Lord's Anointed or the Lord's Anointed or the Lord's Anointed?

 Perplexing question; is it not?! 

Recently I heard a sermon out of Psalms 52 where David is writing about the involvement of Doeg the Edomite when he killed 85 priests, their families and possessions at the command of King Saul. You can read the entire story in Psalms 52 as well as 1 Samuel chapters 21 and 22. Everyone sees Doeg the Edomite as a wicked man. He was. I do not question that. I do however see the story in a different light. It is something that I was sharing with one of the men after church when he asked me if I was a Doeg (playfully.) 

Saul

Saul was anointed king of Israel by Samuel when the people demanded that they be like other nations. God told Samuel that they had not rejected Samuel but rather they rejected God. He allowed the people to have their King and begin a reign of Monarchy rather than God's government. Saul disobeyed God and failed to execute righteousness against the Amalekites who had wronged God's people coming out of Egypt. Because of his disobedience which is as the sin of witchcraft, God had Samuel anoint David, the shepherd boy son of Jesse, to be King in Saul's place. Saul was still King. Saul knew his kingdom was being taken from him and instead of repenting and accepting his failure and consequences he began to be jealous of David. David was his Son in law and as a son to King Saul. Saul's vengeful pursuit of David should have been the intolerance that he had toward Amalek. Sadly, many preachers today will take a stronger stand against a brother than against the world or their flesh (another topic for another day.)

Saul, in his unrighteousness, sought to destroy David. When he found out that David had been to see Ahimelech he ordered his soldiers to destroy the priests and everyone around. His army refused and he turned to bloodthirsty Doeg who was all too willing. Here is the kicker; Doeg was obeying the Lord's anointed. 

David

David was the Lord's Anointed king upon Saul's death. He was the son in law to Saul. He was a dear friend of Jonathan. David was brokenhearted as he fled from Saul as a fugitive and became public enemy number One. David fled to Nob hill and met up with Ahimelech, the priest. David sought for bread from the Holy place. The bread was from the table of shewbread which was reserved for the priests. It was not for the common man. Yet, David insisted that he take of their provisions. He was the Son in law of the King and according to Ahimelech, he was understood to be the most dependable servant in the land to the King. David had no part of the Lord's table. He was not authorized to that bread. It was sacred. It was holy. David knew Saul was the Lord's anointed and he wouldn't even protect himself against Saul while the opportunity presented itself. It convicted him deeply that he even cut a part of Saul's clothing off as Saul slept in the cave. Saul was God's Anointed. David was Saul's Anointed. 

Ahimelech

Yes, Ahimelech was God's Anointed. The priests were anointed for a special purpose. They were to represent Man to God. They were responsible for carrying out the sacrifices and all things pertaining to the tabernacle. They were Holiness Unto The Lord. Let's be clear - When David asked for the bread that was specifically for the priests - David was willfully pressuring the priests to disobey God and break rank. Ahimelech disobeyed God as a result of this. My! My! MY! What a tangled web of deceit! 

Doeg The Edomite

We degrade Doeg for OBEYING the king. We condemn Doeg for showing no mercy in assassinating the anointed servants of God. Here is the kicker - Doeg was obeying the worf of the King. He was submitting himself to the "man of God." How did obeying the Anointed King turn into a man's reputation being that of a bloodthirsty man? Let's understand something. Doeg was in error before jealous ol King Saul ever rode up Nob hill. He was already being detained at the Tabernacle. David knew he was not a good person even when breathing the same air. He knew Doeg was trouble from the start. Doeg was an opportunistic, self- serving, blood thirsty, vile soul.  Yet, he was obedient to the command of the King. He obeyed the Lord's Anointed, King Saul. 

Before I close out my thoughts on the story I would like to remind the reader of another instance in God's Word. There were two unnamed prophets of the Lord whose lives intertwined in a horrible relationship and it cost the young prophet his life. I Kings 13.

God told the young prophet to go and preach against the altar and then go home. do not pass go; do not collect $200. The preacher did what God instructed and went on his way. Along the way the older prophet heard of what happened and latched on to the young man. He decieved the young prophet and deceived, delayed and derailed the young prophet all under the banner of "THE LORD TOLD ME TO TELL YOU." 

Sometimes, it is not wise to listen to the Lord's anointed. The Lord's anointed can sometimes ruin you. When the old prophet heard of the young prophet's demise he fetched him and buried him. He mourned his passing. He lamented his death. Maybe if the old prophet would not have lied to the young upcoming prophet - there wouldn't have been a funeral. Perhaps YEARS had gone by between the time God had the older prophet go and do that ONE single act. Maybe there was jealousy as Saul had. All I know is that FINALLY the Word of the Lord came to that old prophet and his message was death to that young prophet who was lied to by that veteran prophet. 

Don't be a Doeg. Don't be an opportunist and jump at the chance to destroy God's Anointed.