Rotten Fruit So Bad You Cannot Eat It

Jeremiah 24:1-3, “The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon. One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.  Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.”

I am listening to the Old Testament book of Jeremiah today. When I heard this passage it caught my attention. Jeremiah 24:3, “One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.” This passage refers to the Israelites. Some were good (obedient) and some so bad (disobedient) that God compared them to rotten fruit (figs) that cannot be eaten. 

This Scripture passage reminded me of America today. We have much rotten fruit in our country. And we also have much good fruit. The Bible says that God actually sent the good fruit into 70 years of captivity in Babylon “FOR THEIR GOOD.” Jeremiah 24:5, “Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.” Sometimes our great God will allow or cause suffering in our life for our own good, to conform us further into the image of His dear only begotten Son, Jesus.

The Israelites had become lackadaisical in their prosperity, much like the United State today. They had forgotten the Lord. In fact, for 490 years the Jews had stopped observing the Sabbath Day, one of their most important ceremonial laws which they were required to keep by God. Consequently, God chastised them with one year of captivity for every seven years they had refused to keep the Sabbath (hence, 490 years divided by 7 equals 70 years). Jeremiah 25:11, “And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.” After 70 years of captivity, the Jews returned broken, healed and humbled to the land of Israel. Jeremiah 24:7, “And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.”

Most people learn from their sins, crimes and failures in life, but some people are rotten and refuse to submit to the truth, learn and obey God. Jeremiah 24:8-10, “And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt: And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them. And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.”

If We Obey, It Will Be Well; It We Disobey, It Will Be Hell

These “EVIL” men which God refers to include king Zedekiah, the princes, and the false prophet Hananiah, to name but a few. Jeremiah 28:12-13, “Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.” Jeremiah the prophet came before the king wearing a yoke of wood upon his shoulders, illustrating God's commandment for Israel to yield to the king of Babylon. The Lord had assured the Jews, through Jeremiah's preaching, that if they submitted themselves to Babylon to reign over them, they would be allowed to stay in their own houses and live in Israel for those 70 years. But if they refused and disobeyed God's instructions, then Babylon would annihilate Jerusalem, kill many of them, ravish the women, butcher pregnant women, and carry away the surviving Jews into 70 years of captivity in a foreign land.

As Jeremiah spoke these words, the false prophet Hananiah broke the yoke of wood off his shoulders, rejecting Jeremiah's truthful preaching. In so doing, Jeremiah warned that they had made YOKES OF IRON for themselves. One of my favorite MP3 sermons by Pastor Jack Hyles, based upon this Bible passage, is called: “IRON YOKE MAKERS!” 

Zedekiah didn't listen to God's man, Jeremiah. What happened to king Zedekiah is horrifying. When Babylon invaded Jerusalem they captured Zedekiah. Babylonian soldiers executed all 70 of the king's sons while he was forced to watch, and then they put out his eyes. This was done so that this horrific scene would be the last thing Zedekiah ever saw. 2nd Kings 25:7, “And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.” All Zedekiah had to do to avoid this was obey God. I want to quote this important Scripture passage to you, because it applies to America today:

Jeremiah 27:9-15, “Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets (e.g., Steve Pettit, Ray Comfort, John MacArthur, Marty Herron, Gary Walton, Billy Graham, Jesse Jackson, et cetera), nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish. But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein. I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live. Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.  For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.”

God gave His Word to His people that everything would be fine, and there would be peace in the land, ONLY IF Zedekiah simply submitted under the yoke of Babylon. But men are sinfully proud by nature. That is why I have been banned and ostracized by the Harvest Baptist Church of Guam since 2014, because their pastors are sinfully proud, full of arrogance and stiff-necked resistance to THE TRUTH. I say that kindly in love (Ephesians 4:15). I am just a humble broken sinner, A VOICE proclaiming the free grace Gospel of the inspired King James Bible. I am just A VOICE crying in the wilderness of cyberspace upon dear ears among the Bob Jones University crowd. Jeremiah 4:22, “For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.”

Jeremiah 5:3, “O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.” I am just a mortal man. I am not an apostle; but I was saved, called to preach, trained and ordained as a minister of the Gospel in a New Testament church. God is on my side for one reasons, and one reason only, and that is because my preaching is in agreement with His Word. Romans 3:4, “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”

Dear reader, we have a bunch of Hananiah's in our Bible colleges and churches today, who speak untruths they ought not. Titus 1:10-14, “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.” 

Please notice the reason why we as believers are exhorted to “REBUKE THEM SHARPLY.” It is because they are teaching “Jewish fables” (manmade traditions) and “commandments of men” instead of the inspired Word of God. We are exhorted to REBUKE THEM SHARPLY so that they may be sound in the faith, because they are wrong in their doctrine. But even if they don't listen to heed THE TRUTH, it is good so that others who are simple people will learn. 1st Corinthians 11:19, “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” I was amazed and happy when I first found this Bible verse. The Bible literally says that we need heresy and false teachers, so that they can be used as a blank canvas upon which to paint THE TRUTH. I love that!

Beware Of False Teachers Bearing Rotting Fruit

We've got a bunch of Hananiah's today at Bob Jones University. Their Bible professors brainwash their students to deny that we have an infallible, perfect and inspired English Bible today. That is so tragic and sad. You'd think that the one place in the world where someone's faith would be strengthened in the Word of God would be a “Bible college.” Unfortunately that is not the case. Just as a mother's womb statistically is the most dangerous place on earth to be, so also are today's apostate Bible colleges the most dangerous place for young people to be! Pastor Jack Hyles explains how theologians had him messed up in the early years of his 55 years of ministry, because he was corrupted in Bible seminary! 

Brother Hyles shares his unpleasant experience, how he went into Bible college believing his mother that every Word in the Bible is inspired by God; but years later when he graduated from East Texas Baptist College, he no longer believed that we have an infallible, perfect, inerrant and inspired Bible today. Thankfully, it was around the year 1982 right after Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980) went to Heaven, that Dr. Hyles woke up and became a new champion of the inspiration of the King James Bible. You can hear Dr. Hyles proclaim this great truth in a positional sermon from 1994 titled: “THE BATTLE OF THE AGES.” 

Please beware of false teachers today like Hananiah who have crept into our Bible colleges and churches unawares. I guarantee you that every pastor who denies the inspiration and inerrancy of the King James Bible attended Bible seminary (which really ought to be called “preachers cemeteries” instead of preacher's seminaries). If even one portion of God's Word is corrupt today, then it could be any portion, and we have no way of knowing what is true or false, except that so-called Hebrew and Greek scholars tell us what is true or false.

Do you really think that God would leave the simple person at the mercy of manmade scholars? Did the omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), and omnipresent (all present), God of the universe fall short when it came to preserving His very pure inspired Words, unable to give us a perfect Bible in the English language in 2021? Most Christians believe God can do anything except give us a perfect Bible. Go figure! I love the folks at Bob Jones University. God knows my heart. The reason why I preach against them so much is because at one time, back in 1950, they were THE fundamentalist Bible college in the world. Dr. Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968) had the Gospel correct.

The Gift of Eternal Life Comes Wrapped In Jesus

The gift of eternal life comes wrapped in the wonderful wrapping of Jesus. If you don't want the wrapping of Jesus, you don't get the gift inside. I have witnessed to lost people who said they loved God, but cursed at the very mention of the precious name of Jesus. The Bible says they cannot go to Heaven with that horrible attitude. 1st John 2:23, “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” Many lost sinners think they love God, while at the same time vehemently hating the Son of God. The Bible calls them “antichrist” in 1st John 2:22, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.”

There is much rotten fruit in Neo-evangelical churches today, corrupting the Gospel. Kindly said, Dr. Steve Pettit (president of Bob Jones University since 2014) is rotten in his theology, teaching a Calvinist false plan of salvation that denies an instant new birth. This is bad, really bad! Steve Pettit says, quote: 

“You can't just speak about getting saved, and you accepted Christ, and then that's it! There is a justification; There is a sanctification; There's ultimately a glorification, and though there are three parts, they are all part of the whole, and you cannot separate them. In order for you to qualify for the award, you have to get into the race, you have to stay in the race, and you have to finish the race. If you want to win, you have to run to the end; and winning in the Christian life is everything, because if you lose—if you don't finish—you lose everything—you lose your SOUL. And so, the Christian race is the life of faith that begins, is run, and is finished when we cross over into Heaven!” —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” - 11:34)

Dear friend, that is very rotten fruit! There is nothing in the Bible taught about having to get into a race, run the race, and faithfully finish the race to get to Heaven. Dr. Pettit heretically says if you fail to run the race, you lose everything including your soul. That is NOT the free grace of God that brings salvation. What Mr. Pettit is teaching (and he even uses the word in the preceding quote to condemn himself) is an “AWARD.” Dear friend, eternal life is a gift, not an award which you must qualify for. Pettit even uses the word “qualify.” The only qualification for receiving God's free gift of eternal life is that of being an UNGODLY SINNER! ...

Romans 5:6-9, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

God only saves bad people!!! Did you know that Christ died for your righteousness too? My dear non-feathered friend, you and I have no righteousness to offer God. My best is filth to a holy God (Isaiah 64:6). God is incapable of sinning or even being tempted (James 1:13-14). That is why we need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS! Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” That Scripture speaks of the imputed righteousness of Jesus. Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” What a beautiful Bible verse and truth.

I can play many stringed instruments. I love the 5-string banjo. I like the style of Dave Hum, who plays by following the chords and his heart, not limiting himself to mere Bluegrass style. next to Lloyd Green on pedal steel guitar, next Dave Hum is my favorite musician. I love playing this song on the banjo. Lately I haven't done much with my music, sad that I cannot find a wife, so I pray and work night and day on my website ministry (James 5:14). 

I love music. At many times over the years, when I finally figured out how to play something or a new technique, whether it be on pedal steel guitar or banjo, I cannot explain the exuberant feeling of joy. That is exactly how I felt when I learned the beautiful doctrine of the imputed righteousness of God. Dear friend, you and I are saved by GOD'S RIGTHEOUSNESS! Faith is the only righteous thing I can do!!! The very idea that someone needs to be willing to forsake their sinful bad habits to be saved is of the Devil. Who can forsake their sins? Jeremiah 48:10, “Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.” 

Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9). We have no part in God's salvation of our soul except the sin we contributed that made it necessary. Please don't eat the rotten fruit! Please don't eat Evangelist Ray Comfort's or Kirk Cameron's rotten fruit. Please don't eat Pastor John MacArthur's or Dr. Sam Horn's rotten fruit. Please don't eat Pastor John Piper's rotten fruit. Once food has turned rotten it cannot be made fresh again. Corrupt Bibles cannot be made incorrupt. A perverted Gospel cannot be made true again. The only remedy is to throw away the rotten fruit and eat only fresh and healthy fruit. Throw away your modern Bible versions. Abandon your Neo-evangelical cult that masquerades as a New Testament church.

Restoring one's spiritual health is no different than one's physical health. You've got to get rid of the junk food and start eating beans, vegetables, seeds, fresh meats and lots of mineral water. I am learning to make websites with CSS, which is fascinating to me. I love code. I am already skilled at HTML. I was watching some videos today (and there are some awesome free tools online to teach yourself how to make websites), but I needed to hear from my God. So I turned on the book of Jeremiah. I heard Proverbs yesterday. I strongly encourage you dear reader to start listening to the King James Bible daily if you have not been doing so. It will change your life. You'll start remembering things you heard earlier, life-changing beautiful truths. As I grow older, I find myself running to the Word of God like a starving man toward food. The Bible is not merely another book, it is a LIVING BOOK (Hebrews 4:12).