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There can be no doubt that we are living in the end times and this is evidenced in the fact that we are seeing Scriptures being fulfilled right before us. I would like to draw your attention to some interesting developments in the Body of Christ. However, I want you to bear in mind that this is not for everyone, but for those who have ears to listen, eyes to see and hearts to discern the Truth. I will not be writing a long article, because this is a serious matter that is only for those who are looking for the “promise of HIS Coming”.

“Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.” [John 11:5]

The three members of the family mentioned in this scripture, Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus all had a wonderful and unique relationship with Christ. They were all friends of Christ, but each of these individuals had a different relationship with Christ and each is a significant “type” of the End Time Church.

Realistically, there are FOUR types of the End Time Church. However, I will not speak about the fourth, because it is dead and has no relationship with Christ except that it uses the Name of Christ as a covering. It is more of the devil’s den, so it is out of scope in this article.

Now let us examine the relationship Martha, Mary and Lazarus, each of whom represents one of the three Churches, had with the Lord, This will help us determine the “church” to which we truly belong. It is the time for open examination. It is the moment of truth and exposure to what we truly represent.

Martha – The Activity-focused Church
When we say church, let us not think about the people in the world or even the apostate (backslidden) church. Let us not even bother with the cold or lukewarm church. These are a people who are wholly given to Christ but full of their own activities.

Martha is fully focused on serving Christ. And she is loved by Christ – sold out to Christ.

“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about with much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” [Luke 10:38-42 KJ2000]

1. Who Is Martha?
“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.” [Luke 10:38 v]

Martha was a woman who received Christ; she opened her house to the Christ who came knocking at the door of her heart (Revelation 3:20 KJ2000).

Martha was someone who gave herself to service. She was the type who got involved in activities; looking after the poor and needy, looking after the persecuted, organizing crusades and various meetings in the Name of Christ. Martha meant well. But there was a potentially big problem and that is –  was she sent by Christ into this service?

Martha is a ‘type’ of an End-Time Church or group of believers. We see from the above scripture that she became encumbered, that is, distracted from the most important thing, which was – Christ.

I wonder how many have made a shipwreck of their faith because they got themselves distracted through activities Christ never commissioned them to do. Ananias and Sapphira got distracted by trying to serve (Acts 5:1-10 KJ2000).

The group of people that Martha represents don’t usually have time for Christ; they don’t have time for Bible Studies or prayer meetings. Even if they attend these meetings, they will soon be engaged in activities or show some apathy for the meetings through lack of involvement.

They are the sort who are more concerned about carnal things, such as securing a position in the church. They can  always be found struggling for power and control. In Mark 9:35, we have this account of the early disciples of Jesus: “And he sat down, and called the twelve, and said unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”

They are not averse to strife. In fact, they thrive with it. In Luke 22:24, “And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.”

They are totally distracted!

Marthas are the sort who easily get offended at the brethren for their lack of service or inactivity, you would find them murmuring and complaining (Acts 6:1 KJ2000).

Marthas are more concerned about what THEY want to do for God instead of what God wants them to do for Him. Christ came to save the world (John 3:16), but what did we see some disciples wanting to do? Kill the world!

Luke 9:51  And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
Luke 9:52  And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
Luke 9:53  And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
Luke 9:54  And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, will you that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?

They were DISTRACTED! CUMBERED!

God Created All Things

God Created All Things

Marthas are usually jealous of people like Mary; they are quick to judge Marys as being useless and unhelpful to them for reaching THEIR goals. They get upset that Mary is not involved or concerned about THEIR ministry. It is usually about what they want!

Marthas are feeble, weak-willed and are usually faint-hearted. We see them rising up to follow Gideon when the Lord told him to raise an army.

“But the spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him. And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.” [Judge 6:34-35 KJ2000]

“Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and encamped beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, my own hand has saved me. Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.” [Judge 7:1-3 KJ2000]

When it comes to the Kingdom of God, Marthas are more concerned about the meat and drink aspect; the miracles, signs and wonders. They are not concerned about the righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17).

Are Marthas born again? Yes, they are and Jesus loves them (John 11:5).

2. Who are the types we find in “Martha’s” Church

#1. Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus was obviously a type.
#2. Ananias and Sapphira.
#3. 22,000 who are ready for warfare, but took flight at the sight of fear.
#4. The carnal disciples who wanted to call down fire from heaven.
#5. Carnal Peter, the disciple of Christ.

Jesus specifically warned Peter that Satan had desired to sift him like wheat, but what did we find Peter doing? He was busy getting his sword ready for a physical fight. He had made up his mind that the arm of flesh was good enough to save him; he simply had no time to pray. See Matthew 26:51, 33-35, 40, 43.

Lastly, Marthas would always hinder God through unbelief.

John 11:20  Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
John 11:21  Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
John 11:22  But I know, that even now, whatsoever you will ask of God, God will give it to you.
John 11:23  Jesus said unto her, Your brother shall rise again.
John 11:24  Martha said unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
John 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
John 11:26  And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?
John 11:30  Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

Martha’s unbelief action and confession stopped Christ in His tracks. Jesus just stood still after Martha conversed with Him.

Numbers 13:25  And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.
Numbers 13:26  And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
Numbers 13:27  And they told him, and said, We came unto the land where you sent us, and surely it flows with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
Numbers 13:28  Nevertheless the people are strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
Numbers 13:29  The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.
Numbers 13:30  And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
Numbers 13:31  But the men that went up with him said, We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
Numbers 13:32  And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eats up its inhabitants; and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature.
Numbers 13:33  And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, who come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Numbers 14:22  Because all those men who have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put me to the test now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
Numbers 14:23  Surely they shall not see the land which I swore to give unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:
Numbers 14:24  But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and has followed me fully, him will I bring into the land in which he went; and his descendants shall possess it.
Numbers 14:28  Say unto them, As truly as I live, says the LORD, as you have spoken in my ears, so will I do to you:
Numbers 14:29  Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against me,
Numbers 14:30  Doubtless you shall not come into the land, concerning which I swore to make you dwell therein, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

Unbelief is one of the greatest hindrances Marthas face. They just cannot believe God for what He says He will do and God hates that. Unbelief is tantamount to calling God a liar or should I say, referring to God as Satan, because Satan is the father of all liars!

Are you a Martha, do you belong to the Martha Church of the End time? Your exercise of fear, impatience, carnality, strife, slander, etc is a function of one thing – unbelief. The lifestyle of unbelief will rob you of manifesting the glory of God. It will rob you of getting ready for the Bridegroom and going with Him when He turns up.

Ask yourself if you are not DEEPLY encumbered with errands God has NOT sent you, like Martha. Such activities are just a waste of your precious time, they will NOT get rewarded. Don’t get angry with me, read your Bible and call upon God to reveal what you should be doing instead of the useless activities that get you angry, proud and jealous.

You must go to God in prayer and renewal of your mind, waiting on God for directions in your life before doing anything. A life that is full of SELF will never interest a God who is looking for a strong, patient, loving and obedient army of the End Time. He will build them, as His people submit themselves to Him.

“But he gives more grace. Therefore he says, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble.” [James 4:6 KJ2000]

Next Article in the Series: Mary’s Church of the End Time.

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Brother John

My name is simply Brother John. Saved and delivered by Jesus Christ just before my 16th birthday, nothing better could have happened to me in my entire life! Read a little more about my encounter with Christ here: Satan Taught Me... https://brotherjohn.org/satan-taught-me-jesus-mastered-me/ .... When I see that something has blessed me in one way or the other, then I want everybody to hear it and get blessed as much, if not much more. I worship with other believers at the The Platts Road Fellowship. In the truest sense of it, BrotherJohn.org is now more than the personal blog of the person who started it, it has evolved into a TEAM of some world-wide believers, who prefer to remain anonymous. This blog has one purpose: give you practical steps in walking with God. The steps can be found in the fresh Letters From God.

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5 Comments

  1. Ingrid Jennings December 27, 2012

    I have read this article and I must say that Brother John’s perspective on the End Time Churches is different from the ‘norm’ and quite enlightening.

    Reply
  2. Brother John December 27, 2012

    @Ingrid Jennings – May God help us to hear and obey His Word.

    Reply
  3. Neil Burton December 27, 2012

    Fantastic, hope you and your family have had a good Christmas!!

    Reply
  4. Brother John December 27, 2012

    @Neil Burton
    Hey Neil, it’s great to hear from you after all these while. How are you, too? How’s your family? As you may know, I don’t celebrate Christmas, but I rejoice at Christ’s Birth, Life, Death and Resurrection every day! God Bless You.

    As you may be aware, there were some “friends” who still voiced my opinions on FB, it’s either they have now shut down their accounts or Facebook have shut them down completely. What a freedom!

    Great to hear from you.

    Reply

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