Ray D. Dupre
“And when it was day [a time when the possibility of sight was at its maximum], they knew not the land [their view was of uncertain or unknown territory]: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore [even though the land they were looking at was unfamiliar to them, they found an inviting shore], into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship [in their own thinking, if they were convinced it be possible, they would take the ship in]. And when they had taken up the anchors [threw caution to the wind], they committed themselves unto the sea [they chose the uncertainty of the sea rather than the surety of their true anchor], and loosed the rudder bands [they dropped the boards by which they could control the ship], and hoised up the mainsail to the wind [they opened the sails by which the ship could be driven], and made toward shore [they took control and steered the ship towards an unfamiliar but inviting territory]. And falling into a place where two seas met [because of this choice to take control of the ship they ran into a situation that they no longer could control the ship], they ran the ship aground [their loss of control earned them the judgment of having run the ship aground]; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves [the end result was a shipwreck]” (Acts 27:39-41).
“It shall be accomplished [these words speak of something that will occur] before his time [these words, if identified as JESUS, speak of the timeframe of the event—before His return], and his branch shall not be green [these words, if identified as the Church, declare the time frame to be sometime before the perfection of the Church—fruit comes on a tree after the tender green of the branch changes its color]. He shall shake off [these words reveal the prophesied event of an awesome shaking] his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive [these words identify who will be shaken off]. For the congregation of hypocrites [a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion] shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery [the offering, giving, soliciting, or receiving of any item of value as a means of influencing]. They conceive mischief [conduct that causes injury or damage], and bring forth vanity [a spirit of conceit or narcissism], and their belly prepareth deceit [the action or practice of deceiving by concealing or misrepresenting the truth]” (Job 15:32-35). These words of warning put faces to those who will be affected.
“See that ye refuse not him [JESUS] that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him [JESUS] that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him [GOD] that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I [GOD] shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom [THE Church] which cannot be moved [the gates of hell cannot prevail against it], let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:25-29).
INTRODUCTION
The subject tonight, “They Ran the Ship Aground,” was preached at a time when the Church was in great crisis. It, along with other moves of the Holy Ghost, led the Church through a major disruption. This is how this subject came to be.
I was contacted by Brother Robert J. Pruitt who asked me to preach on the Solemn Assembly program. He said, “Allow the Spirit to lead you as to what to preach.” At that admonition, my wife and I went to Fields of The Wood, atop Prayer Mountain, for a week of prayer and fasting. This message came by Holy Ghost unction during that week. Each day just a part of the message would be revealed and I would write down that part. After a few days, I realized the direction the message was going and said, “I cannot preach this.” At that time, I just couldn’t scripturally see another disruption of the Church. Immediately the Spirit rebuked me and said, “Oh yes, you will.” Therefore I did so reluctantly, under a great fear of God in denial of the very message I was preparing. It wasn’t until towards the end of the message when the Holy Ghost compelled me to say, “THEY RAN THE SHIP AGROUND,” that I was released from that fear. Tonight I have that same fear on me again as I prepare to preach from this subject once more.
As this message began to unfold under Holy Ghost unction, I realized the dynamics of this congregation would be far different from the congregation I faced at the Solemn Assembly. Then, we were united in our desire to hear from God as to what we should do. Tonight we are so not united. Some among us think all is well and we have need of nothing, so let’s go full speed ahead. However, there are others who are so troubled that their hope is for a Holy Ghost intervention. Therefore the effect this message will have could be very different from what it had then. Nevertheless, I know the Holy Ghost has a purpose for this, and I, my friends, am crying out for divine help to deliver this message.
I’m aware of the seriousness of what I will be preaching and how it could impact the present-day condition of the Church. However, my peace rests in the words of the great apostle Paul when he declared, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about
with truth…” (Eph. 6:13, 14). These verses convey two thoughts. One is to withstand. The other is to stand. These are two completely different thoughts and we must be prepared to do both. To “withstand” means to resist, hold out against, stand firm against, hold one’s ground against, bear up against, hold the line against, persevere in the face of, and stand up to. To “stand” means to remain, be loyal to, stand up for, support, give one’s support to, be supportive of, give one’s backing to, uphold, and defend. To withstand, as well as to stand, will require that we be TIGHTLY BOUND in the truth. Without a doubt, we are in that evil day spoken of by Paul! Therefore, my firm faith in the truth that’s contained in tonight’s message assures me that God’s grace will keep us in this evil and dangerous hour the Church is passing through.
While tremendous pressures are being exerted on the Church from unholy forces on the outside, their impact can only be maximized by any weaknesses we may have on the inside. A collapse is possible only when the spiritual condition inside cannot counter the forces on the outside. This was the place the Church reached in 1993 when a fracture occurred, through which God allowed the Church within a Church to escape, and here we are now! My concern tonight is this: Having been one of those who came through the 1993 disruption and saw the good progress the Church was making, it is somewhat disconcerting to see signs of regression surfacing.
Why would I say this? You check! For several years now, very little, if any, business during the Assembly have we been able to do. Strong contentions have virtually stopped any hope of doing any business. However, let me say this. There is a difference between “a contentious spirit” and “a contending spirit.” While both are exercised strongly, one leads to discord—the other, to the favor of God. Thank God for men and women among us who are still contending for the faith.
These contentious episodes are obvious signs that lines have been drawn with strong-willed leaders on both sides of those lines. Sitting down and reasoning together has become all but impossible (Isaiah 1:18). Suspicions and ulterior motives are driving these contentions. This should not be! All this does is reveal how divided we are when unity is so desperately needed! Ugly and judgmental spirits can be found on either side of these lines. Let me tell you that neither side will win. Truth has no side. So, let us all grab hold of the truth and hang on! Truth is contained in the Trinity. God the Father speaks truth, Jesus His Son repeats truth, and the Holy Ghost confirms truth… and until it can be said that the Church abides in that truth, we will continue powerless and divided.
No one holding onto the truth need demonstrate an ugly spirit. Neither does anyone claiming to hold onto the truth need to “go soft on it” to make it palatable to others. Truth must be believed and practiced, not discussed and debated. It does not belong to us, it belongs to God. I believe the message I’m preaching tonight will help us come to the place of unity where the awesome presence and power of the Holy Ghost will explode upon the Church again. It’s my hope that the Holy Ghost will use this message to bring us to a good understanding of our accountability. Because I believe this is the key, it’s my desire to stress the danger of failing in our accountability as Church leaders. Souls are at stake and God’s anger will be kindled against those who fail. To stress this I will use historical facts…coupled with a prophesied future event.
A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST
Let’s begin by referring to three major disruptive events recorded in Church history. The 1993 disruption was not the first to befall the Church. The first occurred in 1923. This disruption required the membership to choose whether to go against a General Assembly ruling and follow the General Overseer, who many believed was to serve until his death, or to stick with the Assembly ruling and abandon the General Overseer. Both choices seemed to have had Holy Ghost approval. I have no doubt that to make the right choice would have taken some serious soul-searching.
The stand that was made in 1993 differed in that it required many to ponder when or if it would be right to go against the established leadership of that day. The resolution presented to the Assembly that brought the 1993 disruption dealt with Church doctrine. Unlike in 1923, when the Constitution passed unanimously, this resolution did not get unanimous agreement but was passed on a trial basis.
In a short time, a concerned group had formed. After several meetings, it was felt that no headway was being made in knowing what to do. Then news of the Holy Ghost working through a local church, that was also in distress, reached the group. It spoke of a call for a Solemn Assembly, naming Robert Pruitt to the task of planning for it. It was at this Solemn Assembly that the Holy Ghost would call for a reorganization, propelling the Church out of the hands of a compromised leadership. Had it not been for a move of the Holy Ghost more powerful than I had ever witnessed in my life, along with the revealing that THEY RAN THE SHIP AGROUND, it would have been very difficult, if at all possible, for me to cross the line against established leadership. This move literally shook the foundation of the building we were in, as well as shook my very foundation. STANDING WITH NO COMPROMISE and NOT TURNING BACK cost us a lot. The serious consequences we faced concerned our personal souls and required serious soul-searching.
I would like to not only call attention to these two disruptions the Church went through but also to the fact that the Church, prior to these disruptions, apostatized and went into a period of darkness. The Church went into this apostasy in a.d. 325, which became known as the covering over. This event wasn’t a disruption in the sense that part of the Church went one way while another part stood firm. In this case, the Church ceased to function. She disappeared for 1,578 years (she would make her reappearance again on June 13, 1903). I mention these three events because there’s a common thread that’s important to the message that can be found in each of them.
A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE
Let us now look at a future event that I believe will be more intense than anything the Church has encountered in her past. Zechariah prophesied that the Lord “will bring the third part through the fire” (Zech. 13:9). Since the disruption of 1993, this message has all but fallen out of sight. While we may lose track of some things, and get off track, nothing prophesied is lost from the mind of the Lord. Saints, don’t be fooled. The Church is nearing the fulfillment of this prophesied event. Our focus must be on spiritual things and building ourselves up in the most holy faith. Fellowship without the Spirit becomes a fun time party where no spiritual good is accomplished. If we’re not careful, we’ll find ourselves playing games, content with having “a good time.” But if we’re not spiritually strong enough, with a depth of soul and a dimension of spirit, we’ll not survive the shaking that’s coming.
We have entered into the beginning of sorrows and one of various pestilences has been unleashed upon our world. The talk among many is filled with how fast certain prophecies are being fulfilled, bringing us very near to the return of the Lord. Fear has taken hold of some as they witness how easily people can be persuaded into compliance to do what they fear could be a lead-up to, or possibly the MARK OF THE BEAST. Isn’t this what Jesus declared? “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken” (Luke 21:26). Saints, we must ask ourselves…Church, we must ask ourselves, “How is our heart?” Is it full of fear because we’re looking at the things coming on the earth, or is it full of faith as we look through the things coming upon the earth to the Rapture? God, help us to look through these prophesied events to the precious event of the rapture of God’s Church! While I may not know all the answers to the questions pouring in, I do know that we will come out of great tribulations. For John wrote, “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:13, 14). This is a subject for another day. Right now, I want to go back to the thought I gave concerning that common thread.
Hebrews 12:25-29 says, “See that ye refuse not him [JESUS] that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him [JESUS] that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him [GOD] that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice [God’s voice] then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I [GOD] shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom [a ruling domain, the Church] which cannot be moved [gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matt. 16:18)], let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.”
The writer of Hebrews describes what Zechariah’s prophecy is all about. The third part will be brought through a consuming fire. Yes, he calls it a great shaking. While world events truly are shaping up for the return of the Lord, I ask, “Should our focus be on these events or should we be more interested in making ourselves ready for the return of the Lord?” I’m afraid that a lost focus will leave some unprepared for the coming shaking! I’m not saying we shouldn’t hear more preaching about end-time events, but I am saying we should also hear more about getting ready for the Lord’s return.
BACK TO THE PAST
Listen to what was penned in the book of Acts. When I consider the condition the Church got into in the apostasy, I consider these scriptures. “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock, Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:29, 30).
I had always preached this from the point of view of Paul’s strong leadership and resolve to keep the Church the Church in his day. However, early Saturday morning (August 7, 2021) I was awakened with this thought. Paul’s statement was actually a warning to the Church that leadership was coming who would take the Church down a disastrous road. Leaders who, in spirit, would care nothing for the flock. What a sad state! Indeed the Church did reach that place where compromised leadership took her into apostasy. For it was after Paul and all of the other apostles were gone from the scene of action, that men came into the Church, along with those who were already in place, and took up influential general level leadership positions, and they RAN THE SHIP AGROUND. You see, a conflict had arisen in the Church which seemed could not be resolved. Rather than resorting to normal Church practices to resolve this conflict, they allowed the Roman government to intervene. Oh yes, they thought they were doing the right thing, and there was a good outcome, but the door was opened by which Rome continued to rule—thus plunging the Church into darkness. SIDE NOTE: Their contentions as to the divine nature of Jesus eventually regressed until Jesus was replaced by Mary as mediator. We need to understand where contention can lead. Jesus was replaced as the mediator. He was no longer the mediator of salvation, Mary was. He was no longer the mediator of the covenant, Mary was. As I thought about this, I thought, “No wonder the Lord didn’t let the Church come back for 1,578 years.” Such rejection and gall from people who once had a revelation, that they would let themselves slip to such a place.
We may say, “Not me. Never can happen to me!” Let me say that when we become contentious, delusions follow suit and strong delusions can take over until we can’t even recognize ourselves.
An examination of Church history after the “Arise, Shine” reveals that, in the two major disruptions that followed, this same accusation could be laid at
the feet of leadership, especially at the general level. They, without regard for the membership of the Church, also RAN THE SHIP AGROUND. A. J. Tomlinson’s failure to see the danger of adopting a Constitution in the General Assembly, by which the Church would be governed, allowed a door to open through which leadership, at the general level, would take control of the Church and oust him. Their conduct in this matter, coupled with their refusal to correct the error of adopting the Constitution, resulted in the 1923 disruption. There is so much more I would like to say about this but I have too far to go to get sidetracked here. Enough is said that it’s easy to see the blame for this disruption can be laid at the feet of the General leadership of the Church. As stated, an oversight by the then General Overseer allowed those under his appointment to overthrow his leadership. This new leadership, not A. J. Tomlinson, RAN THE SHIP AGROUND!
After many years of faithful leadership by M. A. Tomlinson, his time of leadership would be cut short of his death by leaders under his appointment. Their desire was to elect an Overseer who would take the Church DOWN A DIFFERENT PATH. This motivated them. IN A SHORT TIME, the new General Overseer performed as expected, until a number of the faithful of that day cried out with true Holy Ghost conviction, “O Lord help us!” There were many back then who expressed, “I don’t feel safe in the Church anymore!” Many were yet faithful. However, it seemed that most were paralyzed by various fears that would impede their ability to stand. The few who would stand became known as THE CONCERNED, a term used by the adversary to shame them. Their concern would culminate in a Holy Ghost call for a Solemn Assembly. They fasted and prayed up to and through this Solemn Assembly. They sought God for deliverance, not knowing what they were asking for. Deliverance came and led them out from under the bondage of the compromised leadership that had brought this 1993 disruption. Again the failure of leadership at the general level (not the General Overseer), without regard for the sheep, RAN THE SHIP AGROUND.
NOW TO THE PRESENT:
A Warning to Leadership at all Levels of the Church
It is at this point in the message that I want to assure you I cling to the belief that the third part has emerged and there will be no more disruptions to divide the Church. So stand, withstand. Don’t leave. Don’t go anywhere. Be supportive, knowing there’s no place else to go. This is the Church of the living God! However, I do believe the HAND OF THE LORD is going to take us through a fire. Zechariah declares this to be a refining fire: “…and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried…” (Zech. 13:9). This process allows for the impure to rise to the top to be skimmed off until what is left is pure. I find this rising to the top and then being skimmed off quite disturbing in light of what I am preaching. I do believe that there will be a turbulent perfection process of this kind in our future. This is where I want to revisit the subject of a time of shaking! This is also where I want to sound a warning to Church leadership. Compromise at this late hour will result in the anointing being removed from some and given to others who will move the Church toward perfection.
[The General Overseer and General Leadership are invited to the platform.]
What I’m about to say, I don’t mean any disrespect. Only to make a point in the interest of their souls and the welfare of the Church. I respect Church government and I respect our leaders, but this message has disturbed me in light of our future. I request that these stand beside me to acknowledge that I place myself under the same warnings I’m about to speak because, by appointment, I am part of this level of leadership. This is how serious I believe this message to be. To each I would say, as well as to myself:
“Brethren, your selection to this General Staff doesn’t assure you a place in heaven.” You are accountable to the Holy Ghost and the General Assembly. Brother Pimentel, your selection as General Overseer and your appointment of this General Staff doesn’t assure you or them a place in heaven. To receive that place you, and all of us, will have to take our accountability seriously and be faithful to the Lord and His Word, and to the Doctrines and Practices of the Church revealed by the Holy Ghost, as do all the rest of the leadership and membership you and they serve over. To fail to live up to that accountability could result in the Lord removing the anointing from you and giving it to another. While that in itself would be awful, the worst thing would be, to be shaken off altogether. Brother Pimentel, let me remind you that, from a Bible perspective, I know of at least one General Leader over God’s people who was rejected by the Lord. Saul, having been permitted to serve as king over Israel, very early in his tenure of service, fell out of favor with God, and the anointing was removed from him and placed on another who, after a while, took up that leadership in God’s time. Yes, a leader stripped of his anointing served while a leader with the anointing waited on God for his time. So troubled was Saul by this that, unknowingly to him, he had David, who received the anointing, close to him to play music by which to comfort him.
Therefore, my beloved General Overseer, it begins with you. I want to remind you that the same Samuel that anointed Saul, was also commanded by the Lord to announce God’s rejection of him, and to go anoint another. I love you, but in light of the shaking that’s coming, I can’t keep silent. I am compelled by the Holy Ghost to sound this warning. Brother, your accountability goes beyond your own conduct and expands to the conduct of the leadership that surrounds you. As I’ve explained already in this message, all past disastrous events were a direct result of General leadership and it is my hope to help avoid this being the case again. Remember brother, it was the leadership around A. J. Tomlinson and M. A. Tomlinson, that led to their dismissal from Overseer-ship and opened the flood gates for the past two disruptions. While I don’t believe another disruption is coming, I do believe a violent shaking is coming and, Brother Pimentel, I don’t want to see you shaken off. God chose you.
You are responsible to give the Church leaders who are wholly committed to the Lord and His Church, and who believe and practice all the Bible, which includes the doctrines and practices of the Church, not excluding the Advice to Members. God’s looking at us. He’s depending on us. I’m not pointing a finger at you, I’m just telling us what our history reveals. Any sign of weakness on our part will be disastrous. Standing and withstanding doesn’t come by appointment, it comes by our conversion. It comes by the blood that has been spent for our souls.
There are two things I’ve noticed over the years that will cause us to shirk our accountability. One is Church growth problems or the lack of seeing the Church grow. It is at this point we may begin evaluating “why.” It becomes a temptation to tamper with things we ought not tamper with. This is foolish. Another thing that gets a hold of us sometimes is when our children and grandchildren become somewhat rebellious and we want to protect them from the discipline of the Church, we tend to become soft on those disciplines ourselves. I stood, as a child, and listened to my father begging the local church, “Don’t keep my brother in the Church. Do what you need to do for his soul.” I’m trying to talk about accountability without being too negative about it. We’re responsible and we’re accountable. And God will hold us accountable.
[General Leaders were invited to return to their seats at this time.]
Growing the Church is no excuse for slackness in our accountability. Jesus’ command was to “occupy” until He comes. Neither can we save our children by becoming soft. Sow the seed. Let it fall on the soil (regardless of the soil’s condition) because the power is in the seed. Remember, the prodigal son came home—so will your sons and daughters if we keep the House of God, the House.
As I return to the four mentioned events in this message, three of which have already occurred, I note that none of them were able to rid the Church of the unknown weak links. The Holy Ghost warned us in the disruption of 1993 that there were still some among us who were not of the same spirit as we were. However, this last event, this shaking, will release the Church from all such spirits that have held her back so she can make herself ready. The decision is not in your hands. It has already been struck in the Word of God. The time of testing our fiber is here. When we are made responsible by being given leadership positions, we become accountable. Failure in this results in serious consequences.
Let me give you an example of leadership accountability. Quoting from the Advice to Members, “These kindly instructions and advice are given by those who are watching for your soul as they must give an account…” (Heb. 13:17). Notice the last few words, as they MUST give an account. This should be taken seriously! I’m afraid some among us underestimate the importance our forefathers put this statement in the Advice to Members. It’s frightening to think that there is such a neglect of keeping the Advice before the membership. Even more frightening is the fact that there are leaders who believe the Advice is not relevant, so they hardly mention them, if at all ever. Worse though, is there are a few who would like to see the Church discontinue the Advice altogether. If you are of these opinions, let me inform you that those of us who were licensed in the reorganization were expected to answer in the affirmative that we believe the Advice was scripturally founded. I’m talking about accountability. What are we going to do with that accountability?
Included in the Advice to Members is language that allows for the addressing of situations not especially mentioned that tend to worldliness, and failure to do so places leaders in violation of their accountability to the souls in their care. Give no place to the adversary. Abstain from the very appearance of evil. Let me reference Paul’s addressing a hair situation in 1 Corinthians 11:14-16: “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” Some have contended that Paul was allowing or advising that the Church should go against “nature” by accepting what was disturbing at that time (because the Church had no rule in place that addressed the issue). However, I believe he was addressing two issues with his statement. He was addressing the contentious (those who were strongly opinionated for and against) and he was saying, “Stop your contentiousness about this! There is no need for this conflict in the Church.” Then he settled the matter with his statement of TRUTH concerning NATURE. In other words, it is only natural (the nature of how God created things) that certain things are certain ways. I don’t know how long or short men’s or women’s hair was in that day. I’m not too interested in the idea of cutting or not cutting. For some reason, things had gotten to the place that there was no distinction between the feminine and the masculine, and the time to speak up had come. Where are we today? Are we still contending? Do we know what to contend about? Ladies, how much of your femininity are you willing to give up in conditioning your hair? Men, how much of your masculinity are you willing to give up as you condition your hair? This is not foolish talk when we’re faced with a world that’s become gender sensitive. It’s begun to make much more sense to me, as we saw the deterioration of things occurring in the Church, that we gave this Advice to our members. Leaders, don’t be hamstrung from your accountability to the precious sheep in your care. Don’t be contentious, but contend for the faith. How much of our sexual identity are we willing to give up by how we dress? That’s your individual choice, but what you choose to do about all of these matters is going to make the difference in how strong you are and how weak you are when this shaking time comes.
Look at the people around you. I don’t see even one that I want to see shaken off. How much can you allow for yourself before you become too weak to stand? Stronger people than me have failed. Historical leaders among us have failed. But we don’t have to fail—not if we realize it’s no more playing games. It’s no more partying without spiritual applications. It’s time to get serious. Member, leader, what will you do?