Lee Grady’s written a good commentary this week.
Recovering the Axe Head of Genuine Anointing
We’ve faked the power of Pentecost long enough. Let’s set aside the imitations and reclaim the real deal.
Shortly after Elijah was carried to heaven in his fiery chariot, a group of young prophets asked Elisha to go with them to build new living quarters near the Jordan River.
While one of the young men was cutting down a tree, the blade of his axe fell in the water and sank into the murky depths of the riverbed;
“And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.” - 2 Kings 6:1-5
The construction project came to an abrupt stop. This was before the days of flashlights and sonar devices. These guys were in trouble.
Knowing that his friends could not replace this expensive iron tool they had borrowed, the young prophet cried to his mentor Elisha for help. The wise prophet threw a stick in the water where the axe head had sunk. Immediately the heavy iron blade floated to the surface-defying the laws of physics and proving that nothing is impossible with God.
“And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it” - 2 Kings 6:6-7
As I have meditated on this passage in recent days I’ve also applied it to our current situation in the American church. It illustrates how desperately we need to recover what we’ve lost.
Perhaps you’ve noticed that our blade is missing. I don’t know exactly when it fell off the handle, but it seems as if we’ve been trying to build God’s house without the sharp edge of His genuine anointing. We’ve traded the real for the phony. We’ve cheapened Pentecost to the point that it’s been reduced to dry religious programs and circus sideshow antics.
We’ve mastered the art of hype. We know how to fake the anointing. We push people to the floor during our altar times. We know how to manipulate music and crowds so that we can create the atmosphere of the anointing. But in so many cases the real anointing isn’t there. In its place is a hollow imitation.
Some charismatic leaders today are even selling specially handcrafted oils that promise the Holy Spirit’s power. Others sell scented candles that claim to bring God’s presence. And last year one brother was traveling the country with feathers in a jar-claiming that these belonged to an angel with healing powers.
Lord, forgive us for our charlatanism. We need the blade back! We must cry out to the God Who has the power to raise iron from the bottom of a river.
We are not going to advance Christ’s kingdom, or build His victorious church, using scented oils, fake charms, ear-tickling prophecies and goofy charismatic gimmicks. This is all wood, hay and stubble destined for the furnace. What we need today is the sharp blade of the Word that is empowered by the Holy Ghost and fire.
In my world travels during the past few years I have met humble Christians who carry the genuine anointing of the Spirit. I’ve spent time with Chinese believers who see miracles inside their prison cells. I’ve met an Indian evangelist who has seen six people raised from the dead. I’ve met a Pakistani apostle who regularly sees Muslims healed during outdoor gospel meetings.
Last week I interviewed an Iranian church leader whose ministry is leading 5,000 Iranians to faith in Christ every month. In the midst of persecution and political upheaval, a New Testament-style revival is erupting in that Shiite Muslim stronghold-all because the church in Iran is weilding the axe head of genuine Holy Spirit anointing.
Where is the God of Elisha?
There is a cry in the American church today that resembles the cry of the desperate young prophet in 2 Kings 6. We have not been good stewards of the Holy Spirit’s gifts, and now the precious power of God has eluded us. We dropped it.
Let’s fully humble ourselves. Let’s repent of fakery and fraud. Let’s ditch our counterfeits and our cheap substitutes, and ask the Lord to restore the axe blade.
Lee’s hit the nail on the head yet again. Awesome stuff, and particularly relevant in view of what’s going on at Morningstar and IHOP.
Yes he sure did.
I was also interested in what he wrote about the results of the true power of God in Iran, China, etc.
Though it grieves me deeply Dave, to see the hyped-up counterfeiting here, it is good to read about the wonderful results of the real power and anointing of God elsewhere in the world.
One disturbing aspect, concerning what passes as the anointing of the Holy Spirit in many American churches now, is that there are many believers who have never witnessed the real; the result is they have nothing with which to compare the counterfeit to.
PJ, I don’t want to put a dampener on things, but I think it’s prudent to take a cautious approach when dealing with any claims of the sort that Grady makes. I’ve no way of verifying what he says, so I’m not going to start getting excited yet. As well as deliberate “hype and embellishment” (to borrow a phrase you might remember), there is a tendency for enthusiastic exaggeration in the Pentecostal world.
I note you link to the Yesu Mulungi blog, and there was a post there last year which raised major concerns as to the accuracy of Grady’s reporting – see http://www.yesumulungi.com/index.php/apostasy-watch/376-lee-grady-charisma-balokole-ism-and-false-african-revivals.html
If he really meant it he would name names. This from a magazine that has Matt Sorger on the cover proclaiming prophecies for 2010. Oh well he drew attention to himself.
“We’ve mastered the art of hype. We know how to fake the anointing. We push people to the floor during our altar times. We know how to manipulate music and crowds so that we can create the atmosphere of the anointing. But in so many cases the real anointing isn’t there. In its place is a hollow imitation.”
Brilliantly spoken and, as Anastasis said, these words are an indictment of the circuses going on at MorningStar and IHOP.
“Some charismatic leaders today are even selling specially handcrafted oils that promise the Holy Spirit’s power. Others sell scented candles that claim to bring God’s presence.”
Did Grady perhaps have Chuck Pierce in mind? I’ve noticed under a lot of the threads on Charisma’s website that different commentators have been trying to call Charisma to account for some time now. The issue they bring up is that Charisma continues to promote the very leaders who receive a sound rebuke in some of their other columns. Does anyone know if Charisma has publicly addressed this dichotomy?
I was also thrilled by what Grady says is happening in Iran, Pakistan, and other places. May the Lord continue to call many people to Himself in such places where gospel proclamation is highly restricted.
Adam
I wouldn’t say the “Real” anointing isn’t there. He is there. He is just a Gentleman waiting for them all to shut up and be still before Him and He will move upon them with Grace and Truth:::>
Pro 1:22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
Pro 1:23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.
Jas 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
Jas 1:7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
Jas 1:8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
The real power of God lies in His Word and in His Church. But a thirst for money, power and fame is suffocating the work of God. And beyond that, it is inviting demons into our very midst. Believers everywhere are looking for the perfect method, the perfect program, the perfect short cut to fix their “religious life” without too much inconvenience, and they are losing it all in the process, not to mention making fools of themselves. Vapid contemporary “Christian” writings and music are idolized and powerful and inspired writings and music going all the way back to Bible times are tossed aside in the mad rush for the latest and greatest. Private interpretation thrives as believers everywhere search diligently for the latest revelation from God and the angels are only too willing to accommodate. God have mercy!
I totally agree with Lee Grady’ article. I pray that he will expose Ken Copeland, Creflo Dollar, and Paul Crouch, that are teaching destructive heresies denying the Lord that once bought them by His blood. The above preachers teach Jesus died spiritually on the cross. That He took on the nature of Satan and became a sinner. This is assault on the divinity of our Lord. In my new book, TIL ETERNITY, I use Youtube videos to show how the doctrine of Christ and the blood of Jesus is being trampled under by these false teachers and prophets. Grady can write a article about how pastors ignoring the anointing of the Holy Spirit by substituting a fake. Yet Grady would never dare come out and name the names of such deceivers. Benny Hinn once prophesied in the name of the Lord Fidel Castro would die in 1994. Castro is still alive. How must this grieve the Lord that His saints refuse to discern between the righteous and the wicked. (MAL 3:18)
“The above preachers teach Jesus died spiritually on the cross. That He took on the nature of Satan and became a sinner.”
This teaching has its roots in a private interpretation of II Corinthians 5.21:
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
What I believe to be a good and extensive discussion of this topic authored by St Maximus, a 7th century church father, can be found here:
http://wellofquestions.wordpress.com/2009/04/10/st-maximus-on-the-corruption-of-christs-humanity/
If one looks closely at these little heresies slipping into the church by the above mentioned teachers, one can often find trails that lead back to the Roman church, which is not surprising since many of these teachers hang out with people from that church and contaminate themselves with the heresies they carry (my own observation).
Thanks Paul for pointing this one out. It is easy to slip into believing these insidious lies as we here them repeated so often.
What a wonderful scripture.I personally believe the axe head is god’s word, and I mean his true word; we have such a unholy mixture in the church, which sadly does not pierce the heart, for we know gods true word pierces our hearts.We need gods word back in the churches in our country,and then her heart will be turned back to the lord.
Seek ye out the old paths, the old ways. they are the right ways.
praise the lord.
Hi Rich
Was hoping you’d see this post.
Amen, amen son…praise God!
The Bible tells us to give credit to whom credit is due.
I give Lee Grady credit for speaking out on behalf of the Word of God and the verdict on the American Church. Charisma magazine is unfortunately like many other periodicals, subject to the bottom line for it’s survival. I cannot answer as to why its featured contents are of dubious standing, but I will applaud a man who is willing to stand in the flotsam and jetsam of the Church’s muddy waters and point the way back to the highway of holiness.
What a task! To see the horror but to be willing to stand in the midst of the heat to beat down the flames so others might live…
I’m grateful for Lee Grady’s courage…
-E
findingthemotherlode,
Well spoken. I’m grateful, along with you, for Lee Grady’s courageous voice. I have to believe that some who previously ate up the more dubious material without question have now taken a second look at things because of Grady’s challenging words.
excellent!
Amen, im with Adam, that was a good word E.
At the beginning of the Bentley/Lakeland event, Lee jumped out front to praise it as a work of God. But something changed, and he began posting commentaries in which it was evident he was questioning what was really going on.
When he came out months later with the column in which he basically called the entire Joyner/Bentley restoration hoopla and Todd’s divorce and remarriage a case of “Greasy Grace”, it took many people by surprise. Not the least being Joyner himself, who accused Lee of being judgmental.
Somewhere in the past 2 years, God seems to have opened up the eyes of Lee Grady to a lot of the foolishness which has been going on under his nose for years.
You can see evidence of this change in many of his articles within the last 6-12 months. Its why i wasn’t totally surprised when he resigned as editor of Charisma recently.
I still don’t agree with every column he posts, but i do find myself agreeing with more of them now. This was one.
I chose that quote because he is not only pointing out the ‘circus side-show antics’ which is a result of ‘loosing our blade’ or ax head, but also dry religious programs, or ‘dry’ religion period.
In my opinion there are two things going on today, side by side.
Both charlatans and wolves, making a mockery of the Holy Spirit, and dry religion, which denies the power of the Spirit.
Though one is more obvious (the false prophets, wolves, etc) both are sinning against the Spirit….and also against God the Father and His Son Jesus.
-The first group sins by insulting, He 10:29, and blaspheming, Mt 12:31-32, the Spirit.
-The second, resists, Acts 7:51, and quenches, 1Th 5:19, the Holy Spirit.
I point that out because its easier to see the wrong in the ‘obvious’, then it is the ”not so obvious’.
He doesn’t name names because he would then lose his job. It’s all about the money, don’t you know.
Offend the people by name and ad bucks stop coming in.
If he truely had courage he would put God before his paycheck.
Rick, I think we need to be careful on this one. We need to remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood. Once we get down and dirty and start naming names, we lose some of the power of God in the process. Our battle is to defend and promote sound doctrine, not to get locked in a personal struggle with those who are actually the victims of false doctrine. I think that Lee Grady is wise in not naming names. I also think that as Karen points out below, he REALLY needs to make sure to distance himself from these people and take a stand for the truth with his relationships as well as with his proclamations.
I have to respectfully disagree some of your posts that applaud Mr. Grady for his seemingly brave and forthright stance in calling for the church to repent. I want to underline the quote of this scripture by Michael:
” For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
I want to emphatically agree with George Mitchell, who stated,
“Believers everywhere are looking for the perfect method, the perfect program, the perfect short cut to fix their “religious life” without too much inconvenience, and they are losing it all in the process, not to mention making fools of themselves….”
I think Lee Grady is still a double-minded man, and that he has not fully seen the depth of his involvement with the Third Wave, and thus not fully repented of it. And he is still there, sitting in the gatekeeper’s position, and benefiting from it. I have deep sympathy and compassion for his dilemma. I identify with him, and interestingly, I just posted a blog entry today, at http://thenface2face.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/it-is-not-a-magic-wand/ confessing and grieving over my sin. I hated this Third Wave movement, and had long discerned its falseness, but still wanted some benefit from it, as I write here:
” The Father began showing me my need for true repentance about my involvement in that counterfeit ….I had begun to be convicted of things I was decrying in others, that I hardly acknowledged before to myself, and which were a very great evil before the throne of God.
Now I could clearly see the demandingness of wanting that quick fix, and I saw a hideous presumption– in assuming safety while participating with others who are offering Strange Fire before the Lord– because I hated it. I saw the falseness of that fire from its inception in the Toronto Blessing. So I had an “out”, from responsibility, that from the start, I saw its wickedness; I was warning and speaking against it… this was a cover for things in me I didn’t really understand and acknowledge until now.”
I do not want to presume to know what motivates Mr. Grady to denounce this movement so strongly, but then stay in his comfy place inside it. Sadly, I do not think there will be any genuine anointing for him, until there is full repentance, and thus a turning away from its feeding troughs. He must begins to tell the complete truth to himself and to his readers. He is prone to puffing up revivals, his reporting has not been reliable, as he seems to see what he wants to see. I agree with Anastasis, here:
“I think it’s prudent to take a cautious approach when dealing with any claims of the sort that Grady makes. I’ve no way of verifying what he says, so I’m not going to start getting excited yet. As well as deliberate “hype and embellishment” (to borrow a phrase you might remember), there is a tendency for enthusiastic exaggeration in the Pentecostal world.”
I am saddened by Lee Grady. He is not in a very comfortable position, yet he seems so desperate to maintain it. I will be praying for him.
I think we can all agree it is a good commentary.
The scripture which comes to me is,
If we apply that to Lee Grady’s commentary, we can ‘hold fast’ to the truth he speaks, without exalting the man himself.
I have believed for awhile now, he has (and is still) on a path in which he is being shown much of the error and ‘wrongness’ in today’s charismatic churches.
Does he see it all? No, im sure he doesn’t. In fact other commentaries he has posted proves that point.
But, God through His Spirit decides at what rate to open our eyes…how much we as individuals can accept at one time.
In Lee Grady’s case, it may be, (and i say may be because i really cannot know for sure) because Lee has been in this stuff himself, for decades, God is leading him slowly out of it.
God does not want our faith shaken, and sometimes too much light, too quickly, can cause us not only to doubt everything we’ve believed [was true] for many years, but it can cause us to question or even doubt God.
I say, let us appreciate the work being done in the man, and, as E wrote,
It’s an excellent commentary, and for that we can rejoice!
“Lord, forgive us for our charlatanism. We need the blade back! We must cry out to the God Who has the power to raise iron from the bottom of a river. ”
The assumption is that they had a blade to begin with. I see no evidence of ever any “real” pentecost in modern times. Flopping on the floor, emotional antics, and meaningless toungue speak might impress the rest of you; however, it doesn’t impress me even in the slightest. Pentecostalism, as invented at Azuza street, was practically designed to be exploited and to lead us into dens of deceivers. The truth that shapes us away from this… is in the Bible. The Bible stands in condemnation of these acts.
Cthulhu, The real thing is out there. I have seen it with my own eyes. But when the power of the Lord is really manifest, it never occurs in a carnival environment and it never gets broadcast on TBN. It usually occurs in the highways and byways of life, more often on the mission field, and almost never at the hands of “Christian celebrities”. It is just simple believers trusting God and He chooses to poor out his mercy. It is terribly hard to see the real thing with all of the fakery going on. I am sure that is the devil’s purpose for it all in the first place. How sad that seemingly 99%+ of what is going on in churches these days in terms of “Holy Spirit power” is about as real as those professional wrestling matches we see broadcast on TV. Everything is staged and choreographed and the entertainment and manipulation proceed on schedule. Yuk! But the miracles of God do still happen. They just don’t get any publicity. In them God is glorified and not man, so for many people, often including the press, there is just little to see. Nobody makes money or fame off of the true work of the Spirit, so few are interested. On the other hand, as Rick alludes, if the real fire of God ever came down on the circus all around us, it would consume them all. Lord have mercy!
George, the reason the body of Christ is in so much trouble is because we aren’t willing to name the names of heretics that are deceiving so many Christians. (2 Pet. 2:1) Preachers are denying Jesus as the only begotten Son of God (Ken Copeland), denying Jesus as the Messiah (John Hagee), denying there is no hell (Robert Schuller), and teaching other faiths will go to heaven without believing in Jesus (Billy Graham) . Anyone wanting to see these preachers promoting these above heresies can do so by watching them on Youtube Videos on my website, paulbortolazzo.com May be take a stand for the doctrine of Christ in love. For Christians who refuse to judge between the righteous and the wicked, between those serving God and those who aren’t, your going to be deceived! (Mal. 3:18)
Paul, i understand and do agree that occasions do arise when we are led by the Holy Spirit to call out false teachers by name.
We should keep in mind though, we are judging when we do this, and must “judge righteous judgment”
I read a short message titled, Judge with Righteous Judgment, that you might enjoy.
http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/judge.html
Personally i didn’t have a problem with Grady not naming names. Anyone with half a brain already knew who he was referring to. ahahah…
Amen PJ.
pj ,
Thank you for speaking those wise words. I think that is what is so nourishing to me about your blog–you have such even-handedness in your judgments! Very different from me, I get my Irish up, and then the Italian part wants to jump in too! I see you have made a necessary correction to what may have been a too hasty evaluation on my part. Of course I should rejoice that the man is moving in the direction of accurate discernment! Although I was attempting to be careful about what might be his motivation for not making a cleaner break with these guys as did Andrew Strom,(and clearly I am frustrated that he does not!) I do see I was too harsh on him. I don’t know what God is doing in his heart.
We do tend to have a very reactionary attitude toward those things we have come to hate in ourselves, so I should be more careful when I think I see this problem of double-mindedness in others. So thanks again for your sound teaching on this.
But I am going to pray that he communicates with an even clearer sound, and as George Mitchell summed up well, that he “distances himself from these people and takes a stand for the truth with his relationships as well as with his proclamations.”
And I will watch the spot where the log in my eye used to be, and make sure it stays a splinter.
.
Amen Karen.
Boy, there’s the truth! I’ve noticed that in myself too.
(very good point sister)
On the subject of naming names, it’s worth remembering that Grady is in a sensitive and privileged position. If he was too explicit in his condemnations, (1) his writings may not get published and (2) Steven Strang might fire him. There’s little evidence that the calls for change from the outside get heard, so the fact that Grady is on the inside gives him a powerful voice, but he needs to use discretion.
That’s true.
God may keep us in a questionable place or position, for a reason.
After my Church tumbled head-first into apostasy, God kept me there for over a year. At the time i didn’t understand why, but afterward it became clearer.
I stand by what I said. He didn’t name names because of financial restraints.
You don’t bite the hand that feeds you, especially when you’re the hired help.
If men are preaching a gospel contrary to the true word of God then they need to exposed not hinted at.
I think Paul did some finger pointing in his day. Probably why he didn’t hold back was his love for God’s people was stronger than his desire to be accepted.
Tip-toeing around wolves doesn’t prevent you from being bit.
Mark them and then avoid them.
These men preach a crossless Christ and a crossless life.
They are snake oil salemen.
I am sick and tired of witches and warlocks and slight of hand artist selling a false Jesus to the young and simple minded and lazy Christians.
I could care less who it offends. I am tired of people walking around sounding like a chicken while I am trying to seek the Lord in prayer.
I finally spoke out to a sister who was doing a Heidi Baker impersonation and told her if she wouldn’t do in walmart she shouldn’t do it in church.
Think she loves me, now?
We have allowed all kinds of crazy behavior in our midst so as to not offend.
Once I mentioned there would be no catchers when I would be praying. The number of people hitting the floor was zero.
I guess God was having a day off or perhaps the portal moved on me.
Just once I wish God would in fact deliever when some of these phony prophets are calling down fire. I would love to see Bob Jones smoking a little. I would love to see Todd Bentley get kneed in the stomach by a 9 foot angel. I wouldn’t even mind if her name was emma.
I would love to see His new trophy tart’s head to a complete 180 when she is doing her cindy jacob impersonation and then have to go to doctor for a neck brace.
My Lord’s name has been taken in vain over and over and I am desiring a Peter moment. Perhaps then people would be a lot more careful where the spend their time and money.
rick, I’m with you. One has to wonder how it is that God in His wisdom lets these people get away with this stuff for so long. It is almost impossible to witness it without wishing for that Ananias and Sapphira moment when God calls everything into account. For sure we all know that if God ever did show up, it would never get broadcast on TBN. But God is merciful and His patience with all of us seemingly unending. We have to count our blessings! – George
o PJ, you stated:
“But, God through His Spirit decides at what rate to open our eyes…how much we as individuals can accept at one time. .”
And how well I know this to be true in my own life. I, too, have a tendency to “want the whole pound of flesh” for the sake of righteousness, as zeal for His house consumes me, but God has shown me time and again that He will do whatever He wants with whomever He wants…and in His way.
PJ, you’re right when you say we must judge with righteous judgment, and that is far different from exercising our own bony finger. When God points, it is the holy finger of God and it is 100% precise, condemning and consuming sin, but not the sinner.
As for Lee Grady, he’s on the wheel along with the rest of us and I think it’s safe to say that none of us have arrived. The way I see it, he’s in a unique position, and how do I know if God Himself has not told him to sit tight and stay there for now? Remember, Joseph was in Potiphar’s house for a Divine purpose.
God’s mercy triumphs over judgment…
-E
Amen E.
That was a lesson learned the hard way. Some years ago i went to the Lord in prayer, crying out to God about someone whom i felt was not seeing something clearly, and i was worried (it was actually my oldest son). I wanted God to “do something” about it.
The Holy Spirit rebuked me with the words;
“work out your own salvation, and leave him to me”
LOL. i can laugh now, but i sure didn’t laugh at the time. I cried and cried, asking God to forgive me.
(And by the way, my son did finally ‘see’. But it was because God’s Spirit led him to see the truth, at the right time.)
Boy that’s the truth. We’ll continue to learn and grow as long as we’re here on earth.
When any of us have finally arrived, we will have REALLY arrived, at the end of our journey!
Excellent piece!
PJ, thank God we don’t have to arrive to judge heresies that are denying the Lord. When we call John Hagee a heretic for denying Jesus was the Messiah is this not a righteous judgment. Hagee did this over ten times in his book, Defense of Israel. Yet I haven’t heard one well known Christian leader lovingly renounce such heresy denying the Lord. Denying Jesus as the only begotten Son of God (Ken Copeland), denying hell (Robert Schuller), believing the Father is calling other faiths that don’t even know Jesus into the body of Christ (Billy Graham), are these just not seeing clearly? Or are heretics attacking the very foundation of the doctrine of Christ while we sit by and make up excuses not to judge righteously. We are headed toward the greatest persecution of Christians in the history of the church because no one wanted to judge. Our precious Lord must be weeping.
Paul, there were quite a few Christian leaders who not only renounced Hagee’s book [and claims] but openly rebuked him.
Go to the search engine on the front page here at the blog, type in John Hagee. You’ll see a number of posts [and pages] where his book, In Defense of Israel’ was discussed at length, also within some of the posts are letters which were issued by a number of Christian voices, addressing the topic.
I’m not suggesting that Christian leaders renounce false doctrines and teachers enough…only that there are instances when they have.
The same can be said for Copelands false doctrine–some well known Christian voices renounced his teachings years ago and still do.
But Paul, even when this is done, many people still follow these false teachers and prophets. So it cannot be said they were not warned.
A personal word Paul: stay balanced.
While its necessary to point out error and false doctrines, we should not forget our main focus is to glorify God and lift up Christ’s name daily.
Sometimes we can become out of balance, spiritually, when all we see or concentrate upon, is the bad.
I say that from experience brother..
I watched Carter Conlon’s “Beware The Angry Watchman” sermon on youtube last night. I got smaller and smaller as the Holy Spirit brought conviction. It takes me ages sometimes to get the message. This message actually began over a year ago when Karen Butler mentioned ‘prating’ over at etpw. I remembered how I tried to justify that admonishment not being applicable to me.
PJ – you are right about staying balanced. I don’t want to be the one who stands in God’s judgement for throwing dust and stones at His returning bride. I know now that I was on the way to that place, not least because I thought I knew better than God regarding His differing methods and timelines when dealing with different people.
When the Lord opened my eyes to the following verse, something happened for me in terms of perspective. I no longer saw matters that did not line up with Scripture as being my ultimate responsibility to fix or change.
In John 12:47-48, Jesus said:
“If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.” (ESV)
Ultimately, the Word will judge those who hear but do not keep His Word. This frees me up from having to be everyone’s policeman. I can go forward in His Name and obey the Word by holding out the Word of Life as Christ’s ambassador, walking in the ministry of reconciliation. As
2 Timothy 2:24-26 says,
“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
This truth does not preclude me from discerning or making a righteous right judgment. These spiritual provisions are from the Lord, and serve to protect and guide the body of Christ. But we are called to live in a way that is worthy of the gospel. I am instructed in Scripture to cleanse myself of what is dishonorable, that I might be a vessel of honor that God can use, in spite of this present evil age.
“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21 (ESV)
How do I know that God will not grant mercy on those who are now disobedient? And how do I know that God may not choose me to be that vessel to convey His mercy? Freely I have received, I must now freely give.
-E
There’s some wisdom in these posts…stay balanced…amen to that. I love what the Lord said to you when you were crying out about you son, PJ…oh yeah..I’m hearin’ it too — I am reminded of Jesus responding to Peter (at the end of the Gospel of John) — Peter is asking the Lord about “what about the him” (paraphrase mine)…and Jesus retorts — what is it to you…” — YOU FOLLOW ME. I get it. He’s talkin’ to me….and you…and you…and you. Work out your own walk…carve your own path…yield to the Holy Spirit — and fix your eyes on Jesus. Don’t compare yourself — and the exhortation I keep hearing in my spirit is this — WALK IN THE MEASURE OF FAITH I HAVE GIVEN YOU…AND TRUST ME FOR THE INCREASE.
In simple terms — mind your own p & q’s.
findingthemotherlode, certainly there is a danger in judging the motives of another in their words or deeds. The judging of false teachers teaching heresies denying the Lord that once bought them by His blood is another story. (2 Pet. 2:1, 1 Tim. 4:1, 2 Tim 4:3-4) The doctrine of Christ is under attack by teachers deceptively coming in Christ’s name (Mat. 24:4-5) The denial of Jesus as the only begotten Son of God, denial of Jesus as Messiah, denial of hell,and the lie people can go to heaven without believing in Jesus. The Christians putting their heads in the sand, refusing to engage in such spiritual warfare, will be eventually will be swept away with the avalanche of deception that’s coming. Is this a salvation issue? Absolutely.
I am in full agreement with you, Paul, that we must contend for the faith, and it is a fight not for the faint of heart. In fact, if we are not prepared to “go where we do not want to go” we will be found guilty ourselves. To “Follow Him” is a call away from all that is false and of man’s doing, exposing wickedness and sin when called upon.
And yes, the Word of God addresses the false teachers in numerous places, especially in Jude, where Enoch condemned them many years ago. We are watching the Word being fulfilled in our day!
And we must do our part, whatever that part is, as ordained by God to speed the Day of His coming.
God bless,
-E
findingthemotherlode, excellent post!