7d • Messages
When Man Altered God’s Design”
We are speaking of mankind, we were never designed to follow after man. At the onset of the creation of the world we are being constructed in the image of God. They decided to make them in their image.
We are not required nor is it our calling to follow after men.
We have family blood lines that represent us as a family. The sins of the fathers were carried down to the 7th generations. Kids were destined to deal with the demons of their fathers fathers father and on.
Now Christ has redeemed us from the curse by becoming a curse for us. So we no longer experience what our ancestors experienced because of their permanent scarring within the bloodline. Their sin doesn’t eventually find me and become mine too.
Jesus sent Holy Spirit to be the one who walks beside us the way Jesus walked with the disciples. Holy Spirit is ever present but invisible yet shows up manifesting as a dove, a cloud, fire, rain, and more.
The constructs of the church of Jesus Christ were to be built on Christ the solid Rock. Following His example and not man.
We have become a foundation built on the constructs of man where Jesus is not the chief cornerstone. He is the one that sets everything else into alignment.
Ephesians 2:19-22
New King James Version
Christ Our Cornerstone
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Focusing on who you like
1 Corinthians 3:4-6
King James Version
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
We are cautioned not to laser focus on man they are just ministers.
Servants - Ministers -
One who executes the commands of another
Like a waiter of a table
————
We live in a societal construct where how to do church has been dictated and defined by culture. We aren’t looking like what we were designed to become but instead we are a misrepresentation of the original thought of God for what the church is who the church is where the church is.
We are the Church
1 Corinthians 12:27 (KJV): "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."
Romans 12:4-5 (KJV): "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every member of that one body, are members one of another."
The building is not the church
When Man Altered God’s Design” - A 7 Mountains Analysis
INTRODUCTION: The Pattern of Deviation
Core Premise: Throughout history, what God established as pure and simple has been complicated, institutionalized, and often corrupted when man’s systems replaced God’s original design.
Biblical Foundation:
- Mark 7:13 - “Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down”
- Matthew 15:9 - “They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules”
- Colossians 2:8 - “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition”
MOUNTAIN 1: RELIGION/CHURCH
GOD’S ORIGINAL DESIGN (Acts 2:42-47)
- House-to-house gatherings centered on communion
- Daily breaking of bread in homes
- Shared possessions and radical generosity
- No buildings, no tithes to structures
- Every believer a minister
- Apostolic leadership was mobile, not institutional
WHAT CHANGED (313 AD - Present)
Constantine’s Edict (313 AD): Christianity became state religion
- Church buildings introduced (basilicas modeled after Roman courts)
- Clergy/laity division formalized
- Communion went from daily fellowship meal to quarterly ritual
- Worship shifted from participatory to performance-based
- Tithing redirected from poor to building maintenance
1500 Years Later:
- $500 billion spent annually on church buildings in America
- Pastor became CEO instead of shepherd
- “Going to church” replaced “being the church”
- Megachurch model prioritizes attendance over discipleship
What Was Removed:
- Acts 2:44-45 lifestyle rarely taught
- James 2:1-9 (no partiality) ignored in VIP seating
- 1 Corinthians 14:26 (everyone participates) replaced with stage performance
MOUNTAIN 2: FAMILY
GOD’S ORIGINAL DESIGN
- Genesis 1:28 - Be fruitful and multiply
- Genesis 2:24 - Man leaves father/mother, cleaves to wife
- Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - Parents teach children God’s Word at home
- Multigenerational households (Ruth, Naomi, Boaz)
- Family as primary discipleship unit
WHAT CHANGED
Industrial Revolution (1760-1840):
- Men left home for factories (family discipleship fractured)
- Nuclear family replaced extended family structures
20th-21st Century:
- Government replaced father as provider (welfare state)
- Schools replaced parents as educators
- Church replaced family as discipler (Sunday School model)
- Daycare raised children instead of grandparents
- Gender roles redefined by culture, not Scripture
Modern “Truth”:
- 50% divorce rate accepted as normal
- Cohabitation before marriage standard
- Gender fluidity taught in schools
- Single-parent homes normalized (70% in some communities)
Biblical Standard Lost:
- Malachi 4:6 - “Turn hearts of fathers to children”
- Proverbs 22:6 - “Train up a child in the way he should go”
- Titus 2:3-5 - Older women teaching younger women
MOUNTAIN 3: EDUCATION
GOD’S ORIGINAL DESIGN
- Deuteronomy 6:6-9 - Parents teach children continuously
- Proverbs 1:7 - “Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge”
- Education centered on God’s wisdom and character
- Apprenticeship model (Elijah/Elisha, Jesus/disciples)
WHAT CHANGED
1647 - Massachusetts School Laws: First compulsory education 1859 - Darwin’s Origin of Species: Foundation for secular worldview 1962-63 - Prayer/Bible removed from schools (Engel v. Vitale, Abington v. Schempp)
Modern System:
- God removed, evolution mandated
- Critical Race Theory introduced
- Gender ideology taught to kindergarteners
- Sex education replaces purity teaching
- Government determines truth, not Scripture
- $15,000+ spent per student annually with declining literacy
What Was Lost:
- Proverbs 9:10 foundation - “Fear of the LORD is beginning of wisdom”
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - Scripture as primary textbook
- Parents as primary educators
MOUNTAIN 4: GOVERNMENT
GOD’S ORIGINAL DESIGN
- Romans 13:1-7 - Limited government to punish evil, reward good
- 1 Samuel 8 - God warns against centralized monarchy
- Judges period - God as direct ruler through anointed leaders
- Exodus 18 - Decentralized leadership (leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, tens)
- Biblical government: Small, local, accountable
WHAT CHANGED
1913 - Federal Reserve Act: Government controls money supply 1913 - 16th Amendment: Federal income tax (God’s tithe was 10%, now 37%+ federal) 1935 - Social Security: Government replaces family care for elderly 1965 - Medicare/Medicaid: Government healthcare
Modern Reality:
- $34 trillion national debt
- 40%+ of income to taxes (God asked 10%)
- 2.9 million federal employees
- Government as savior instead of God
- Dependence on state replaces faith in God
Biblical Warning Ignored:
- 1 Samuel 8:10-18 - Warning about kings taking your sons, daughters, wealth
- Proverbs 29:2 - “When the righteous rule, people rejoice; when wicked rule, they groan”
MOUNTAIN 5: MEDIA/COMMUNICATION
GOD’S ORIGINAL DESIGN
- Psalm 19:1 - Creation declares God’s glory
- John 1:1 - “Word became flesh” - direct communication
- Acts 2 - Personal testimony in streets and homes
- Letters (Epistles) - Direct, personal, truthful
WHAT CHANGED
1440 - Printing Press: Mass distribution begins 1920s - Radio: One-to-many communication 1950s - Television: Visual media dominates 1990s - Internet/Social Media: Algorithm-controlled “truth”
Modern Deception:
- 6 corporations control 90% of American media
- Algorithms determine what you see
- “Fact-checkers” decide truth (who checks them?)
- Deepfakes make video unreliable
- Attention economy values clicks over truth
- Average person consumes 12+ hours of media daily
What Replaced God’s Design:
- Proverbs 18:13 - “Answer before listening is folly and shame” (replaced with soundbites)
- James 1:19 - “Quick to listen, slow to speak” (reversed on social media)
- Exodus 20:16 - “No false witness” (clickbait headlines lie daily)
MOUNTAIN 6: ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
GOD’S ORIGINAL DESIGN
- Exodus 31:1-11 - Bezalel filled with Spirit for artistry
- Psalm 150 - All instruments praise the LORD
- David’s psalms - Art worships God
- Entertainment didn’t exist as separate category; celebration centered on God’s works
WHAT CHANGED
1920s-Present - Hollywood:
- Entertainment industry worships fame, money, pleasure
- $100 billion annual industry
- Normalizes sin (adultery, violence, witchcraft, rebellion)
Music Industry:
- Christian music became industry, not ministry
- Worship became performance, not offering
- “Christian entertainment” prioritizes profit over anointing
Modern Result:
- Average American watches 3-4 hours TV daily
- Pornography addiction epidemic (64% of Christian men)
- Children’s shows promote witchcraft, rebellion, LGBTQ+ agenda
- Worship leaders more famous than message
Biblical Design Lost:
- Colossians 3:23 - “Work as unto the Lord” (not for fame/money)
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 - “Whatever you do, do for glory of God”
- Ephesians 5:19 - Music for “making melody to the Lord”
MOUNTAIN 7: BUSINESS/ECONOMICS
GOD’S ORIGINAL DESIGN
- Genesis 1:28 - Dominion mandate (stewardship work)
- Exodus 20:9 - Six days labor
- Leviticus 25 - Jubilee (debt forgiveness every 50 years)
- Deuteronomy 8:18 - “God gives ability to produce wealth”
- Acts 2:44-45 - Economic sharing in community
- Proverbs 22:7 - “Borrower is slave to lender” (warning)
WHAT CHANGED
1694 - Bank of England: First central bank (debt-based money) 1913 - Federal Reserve: US adopts debt-based currency 1971 - Nixon removes gold standard: Money becomes completely fiat
Modern System:
- Money created from debt, not value
- Average American $103,000 in debt (mortgage, car, credit cards, student loans)
- Credit score determines worth, not character
- Work 40+ years for someone else’s dream
- Retirement age keeps increasing (God had no retirement age)
- Planned obsolescence (products designed to fail)
Biblical Economics Abandoned:
- No usury among God’s people (Exodus 22:25) - Now entire economy runs on interest
- Jubilee debt forgiveness - Never implemented
- Proverbs 13:11 - “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle” - Get rich quick schemes everywhere
- Luke 6:38 - “Give and it shall be given” - Replaced with hoard and invest
MOUNTAIN 8 (BONUS): HEALTHCARE/SCIENCE
GOD’S ORIGINAL DESIGN
- Genesis 1:29 - Plants for food/medicine
- Proverbs 17:22 - “Joyful heart is good medicine”
- James 5:14-16 - Prayer, anointing oil, confession for healing
- Jesus/disciples - Healing through faith and power
- Prevention through clean/unclean food laws
WHAT CHANGED
1910 - Flexner Report: Homeopathy, natural medicine labeled “quackery” 1928 - Penicillin: Pharmaceutical age begins 1950s-Present: Big Pharma dominance
Modern Medical System:
- $4.3 trillion healthcare industry (18% of GDP)
- Treats symptoms, not causes
- Average American on 4+ prescription medications
- Pharmaceutical ads legalized (only US and New Zealand allow this)
- Natural remedies suppressed
- Vaccine mandates override bodily autonomy
- Mental illness explosion (1 in 5 on psych meds)
God’s Design Replaced:
- Prayer for healing → “Seek medical attention first”
- Fasting → “Three meals a day + snacks”
- Natural foods → Processed, chemical-laden products
- 1 Corinthians 6:19 - “Body is temple” → “Trust the experts”
SCRIPTURES REMOVED/ALTERED
Books Removed from Bible:
- 1 Esdras, 2 Esdras (Apocrypha)
- Book of Enoch (referenced in Jude 14-15, but removed)
- Book of Jasher (mentioned Joshua 10:13, 2 Samuel 1:18)
- Book of the Wars of the Lord (Numbers 21:14)
Verses Removed/Questioned in Modern Translations:
- Matthew 17:21 - “This kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting” (removed NIV)
- Mark 16:9-20 - Entire resurrection account bracketed/questioned
- John 5:4 - Angel troubling the waters (removed)
- Acts 8:37 - Ethiopian eunuch’s confession of faith (removed)
- 1 John 5:7 - Trinity verse weakened in modern translations
Translation Changes That Alter Meaning:
- “Repent” → “Change your mind” (weakens call to action)
- “Hell” → “Grave” (removes judgment urgency)
- “Servant” → “Slave” debate (changes identity)
- Gender-neutral pronouns replacing masculine (2011 NIV controversy)
1. RECOGNIZE THE PATTERN
Man always complicates what God makes simple:
- Salvation: God says “Believe” → Man adds works, rituals, membership
- Prayer: Jesus says “Pray like this” → Man creates liturgy, rote repetition
- Giving: God says “Cheerful giver” → Man demands 10% to building fund
2. RETURN TO ORIGINAL DESIGN
Question for your congregation: “If we removed everything man added to what Jesus established, what would church look like?”
- Would we need a building?Would everyone minister, or just watch?
- Would we gather daily or weekly?
3. TEST EVERYTHING AGAINST SCRIPTURE
1 Thessalonians 5:21 - “Test everything; hold fast what is good”
Challenge: “What do we accept as ‘normal’ that Jesus never taught?”
- 90-minute Sunday service?
- Professional clergy?
- Spectator worship?
- Separated age groups?
4. COUNT THE COST OF MAN’S ADDITIONS
Every deviation from God’s design has a price:
- Buildings cost billions → Early church fed thousands
- Professional ministers → Every believer was a minister
- Institutionalized church → Persecuted church grew faster
5. PROPHETIC WORD: “Return to Your First Love”
Revelation 2:4-5 - “You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first.”
God is calling His church BACK to:
- House-to-house fellowship
- Daily communion
- Shared resources
- Every-member ministry
- Supernatural demonstration
CLOSING ILLUSTRATION
The Frog in Boiling Water: Changes happened gradually over 1500 years. Each generation accepted slight deviations until we’re 180 degrees from God’s original.
The Call: Not to rage against systems, but to REBUILD according to original blueprints.
Nehemiah rebuilt walls by returning to God’s design. We rebuild the church by returning to Acts 2.
Final Question: “What will YOU remove this week that man added, so God’s original design can flow through your life?”
2:03:59
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When Man Altered God’s Design”
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