Monthly Archives: February 2010
How about some encouraging news today?
Praise God…
Has Rick Joyner caused a split….?
When adding the title I had Todd Bentley’s name instead of Joyner’s..but you know actually, if there are deep rifts forming within this group over Todd being placed back behind the pulpit, its Rick Joyner who’s behind it all. Without him being the catalyst, which I sincerely believe was for his own purposes & for his own (MS) ministry, Todd might not be back with his ‘school of the prophetic’ or holding nightly meetings.
Anyway, Rick Hiebert has a new (interesting) post up this evening at Bene Diction,
I don’t want to comment on King and whether she is orthodox or her stance on divorce is the best. But I do want to point out that a split seems to be happening in this wing of the charismatic movement about Todd Bentley. First, John Paul Jackson expressed his misgivings about Bentley’s divorce and remarriage and now Patricia King has made this statment. As Todd Bentley returns to public prominence, I expect that we may see more public figures in the church feeling a need to pick sides.
The dwelling place of satan
Last month the question of where satans seat or throne is located today was discussed in the post, “…even where Satan’s seat is..”
Charles Newbold touches on the topic in chapter 17 of his book, “The Harlot Church System”. I found it interesting and thought someone else might as well…
“How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning? How are you cut down to the ground…For you have said in your heart, ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the most High.’” Isa. 14:12-13.
THE DWELLING PLACE OF SATAN
Several things of interest are revealed to us in the above verses of scripture from Isaiah. First, we note that this reference to Lucifer, whom I believe is Satan, is in the context of the prophecy of the fall of the king of Babylon and of the destruction of Babylon. Isa. 14:3-11, 22-23. If we remove the subheadings and the chapters and verses that have arbitrarily been given to these verses, they read as one continuous passage, thus linking Lucifer with Babylon as the king of Babylon.
Secondly, we note that Lucifer made five boasts, five “I wills.” He seeks to usurp the place of God in heaven, to exalt his throne above the stars, to sit upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north, to ascend above the heights of the clouds, and to be like the most High. This is what Babylon is about–the exaltation of Self. It is all that the carnal mind devises.
Thirdly and most particularly, Lucifer said he would sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north. Psalms 48:2 lets us know that “the sides of the north” refers to Mount Zion:
“Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.”
The “great King” in this verse refers to Yahweh who is Jesus. Psalms 2:6 declares, “Yet have I set My king upon My holy hill of Zion.” Zion is God’s dwelling place (Ps. 9:11) and is “the city of the great king.”
Zion is also a type of God’s holy remnant.
“Remember Your congregation who You have purchased of old, the rod of Your inheritance who You have redeemed, this Mount Zion, wherein You dwell.” Ps. 74:2.
Also we read, “They who trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion.” Ps. 125.1.
Lucifer intended from the beginning of time to seat himself as the head of the congregation of God’s people.
Benny Hinn accused…
**Updated** – Steve has since removed the links from his website, Apostasy Watch, (read his reason for doing so below) and because there is nothing more to go on besides the two stories (which are questionable), I’m also removing the bulk of the OP here.
What I will leave up was my comment,
We are living in a time when misinformation, accusations, and out-right lies are put out-there and greedily embraced by the masses as solid truth. And when truth is shunned and completely ignored. I don’t want to be a part of that.
Righteous Judgment
Turn your attention upon yourself and beware of judging the deeds of other men, for in judging others a man labors vainly, often makes mistakes, and easily sins; Whereas, in judging and taking stock of himself he does something that is always profitable.
We frequently judge that things are as we wish them to be, for through personal feeling true perspective is easily lost.
If God were the sole object of our desire, we should not be disturbed so easily by opposition to our opinions.
Be honest in your judgment and do not decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and righteously. John 7:24
Just who are the demonized?
Can I offer a clue–its not the child. (HT)
BALTIMORE (AP) — For more than a week, Ria Ramkissoon watched passively as her 1-year-old son wasted away, denied food and water because the older woman she lived with said it was God’s will.
Javon Thompson was possessed by an evil spirit, Ramkissoon was told, because he didn’t say ”Amen” during a mealtime prayer. Javon didn’t talk much, given his age, but he had said ”Amen” before, Ramkissoon testified.
On the day Javon died, Ramkissoon was told to ”nurture him back to life.” She mashed up some carrots and tried to feed the boy, but he was no longer able to swallow. Ramkissoon put her hands on his chest to confirm that his heart had stopped beating.
Ramkissoon and several other people knelt down and prayed that he would rise from the dead. For weeks afterward, Ramkissoon spent much of her time in a room with her son’s emaciated body — talking to him, dancing, even giving him water. She thought she could bring him back.
Oath Keepers and the Age of Treason
Disturbing three page article,
THE .50 CALIBER Bushmaster bolt action rifle is a serious weapon. The model that Pvt. 1st Class Lee Pray is saving up for has a 2,500-yard range and comes with a Mark IV scope and an easy-load magazine. When the 25-year-old drove me to a mall in Watertown, New York, near the Fort Drum Army base, he brought me to see it in its glass case—he visits it periodically, like a kid coveting something at the toy store. It’ll take plenty of military paychecks to cover the $5,600 price tag, but he considers the Bushmaster essential in his preparations to take on the US government when it declares martial law.
His belief that day is imminent has led Pray to a group called Oath Keepers, one of the fastest-growing “patriot” organizations…
Faith Leaders and the Health Summit
No need to point out again where I stand on the issue.
Faith leaders on both sides of the health care reform debate made last minute pitches in the days running up to Thursday’s summit where President Obama and key congressional Republicans will try to find common ground on the issue tearing Washington apart…
The Female Kim Clement
Who is this? I recognize the face but can’t place her. She’s in with the rest of that group [Pierce and company] and I recall her supposedly prophesying about Todd Bentley in the past… Its bugging me that I can’t remember her name.
Anyway, she is indeed a female version of Kim Clement. If you can take it, stick with the whole 9 minutes. For no other reason then to watch the people listening to this nonsense, ‘eat’ it up..
The Preaching Hypocrite by John Fletcher
Came across this posted at SermonIndex this evening. After reading it I thought it was an excellent guideline for any Christian to ponder upon when discerning their favorite preacher today. And then I thought again–No, this is really more; its a Holy Ghost Spotlight by which we all can discern our own hearts, intentions and actions when handling the Word. For I believe there can be found a little hypocrisy in us all on occasion, when we fail to live up to what we preach to others. Or maybe I’m the only one ever guilty of that?
“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” 1Cor. 9:27
The Preaching Hypocrite by John Fletcher
The preaching hypocrite–Admitted of men, not called of God, he preaches Christ, but not for Christ.
“Put me (saith he) into the priest’s office, that I may eat a morsel of bread.”
He is, perhaps, a “preacher of righteousness,” but a “worker of iniquity.” But the true Christian preacher only spends and is spent upon Christ and His interest. He is careful not only of his gifts, but of his grace; not only to be sent of men, but of God. The one preaches himself and for himself. The other preaches Christ, and for Christ.
The hypocrite is ambitious to show his learning; to be admired rather than to be useful. Not so St. Paul (1 Cor. 2) A “scribe well instructed bringeth out of his own treasures things new and old.”
He brings in learning, but not divine learning! His artificial fire hath no warmth in it. But the Christian minister, though perhaps learned in Egyptian wisdom as Moses, and in Greek literature as Paul, who quoted Aratus to the Athenians (Acts 17:28), Menander to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 15:38), Epimenides to Titus (Tit. 1:12), never uses it but as the Agar of Sarah; Christ crucified being his chief knowledge.
The hypocrite uses divine learning to human, carnal ends–to get preferment or fame, to support opinions or parties. The minister of Christ handles not the “word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth” (2 Cor. 4:2). He glorieth not in his preaching, a necessity being laid upon him by Christ.
The hypocrite chooses subjects on which he may shine and please. The other, those which may awaken and edify, disclaiming men pleasing. The one shoots over the heads, the other aims at the hearts of his hearers, suiting himself to the meanest capacity.
He puts on a face of zeal, without zeal, and, trying to move others, is himself unmoved. He cannot say with Christ, “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.” His zeal is an ignis fatuus, or perhaps a heathenish fire lighted at Seneca’s torch; not a burning, as well as a shining light. He may have some feelings, but they are over with his sermon or prayer; some warmth for the church, as Jehu, because it is his party. But the Christian minister hath more zeal in his bosom than on his tongue. Elijah-like, the “word of the Lord is as a fire in his bones.” His soul “weeps in secret places” for the sins he reproves openly (Jer. 13:17). He can put probation-est to what he preaches, and his zeal hath a very large measure of gospel love.
It saves others, while it consumes himself.
The hypocrite is, perhaps, strict in his rules, loose in his practice, binding heavy burdens, that he toucheth not himself. He is like a finger post, which shows the way, but never walks in it. He promises liberty, while he is himself the slave of sin.
The true preacher is afraid to preach what he practices not; he lives his sermons over. As a brave captain, he saith, “Follow me.” He aims at Thummim as well as Urim, perfection as well as light. The one makes the way to heaven as broad as he can, at least to himself, and ofttimes allows things to others to screen himself. The other makes the way to heaven narrower to himself than to his hearers and never gives up the last of the word, lest his own foot should be pinched.
Chuck Pierce is a nut + the Holy Ghost Hokey Pokey
“Mary ‘activated’ Jesus… she ‘activated’ His Glory…and Father agreed with her..” -
Chuck Pierce, Go Beyond!!!
“You put your right foot in, You put your right foot out; You put your right foot in…”
America’s Wealthiest Religions
This is interesting.
It’s no secret that the distribution of wealth is inequitable in the United States across racial, regional, and socio-economic groups. But there is a distinct variance among and within America’s faiths as well. This transparency takes a look at the income levels of America’s major religious groups, as compared to the average U.S. income distribution.
Transparency: America’s Wealthiest Religions (Click on the chart to enlarge)
PC (USA)’s Israel Proposals Will Damage Relations
The proposals set forth by a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) committee regarding the conflict between Israel and Palestinians will damage interfaith ties, said one of the nation’s largest Jewish human rights organizations.
PC (USA)’s recommendations reflect an “anti-Israel political agenda” and are not “balanced and fair” as the church leaders pledged its Middle East policies would be, said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, on Monday.
The recommendations by the denomination’s Special Committee to Prepare a Comprehensive Study Focused on Israel/Palestine include a call for the U.S. government to withhold financial and military aid to Israel; end the Israeli occupation of the West Bank; and repent of its “sinful behavior” throughout the Middle East, including its “acquiescence” in the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands..
Palestinian Christians say the wall separating Palestinian territories have turned villages into prisons. They also complain that Israeli settlements control resources and that military checkpoints are humiliating.
“I can go on and on talking about human rights violations in Palestine,” said the Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, senior pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, at an event in 2007 in Washington, D.C., to raise awareness about the suffering of Palestinian people.
“Unfortunately, somehow the world got used to this; maybe because it is the longest ongoing conflict,” said the Palestinian human rights activist.
Full article, Jewish Group: PC(USA)’s Israel Proposals Will Damage Relations
John Piper wrote one of the best (short) messages I’ve read on how Christians are to respond to what has, and is still occurring concerning the Jewish-Palestinian conflict,
How should bible-believing Christians align themselves in the Jewish-Palestinian conflict? There are biblical reasons for treating both sides with compassionate public justice in the same way that disputes should be settled between nations generally. In other words, the Bible does not teach us to be partial today to Israel or to the Palestinians because either has a special divine status….
Some fantastic heretics I have known
By Thomas R. Horn RaidersNewsNetwork
(HT)
quote..
Recently while searching for a particular document that I had placed in an old photo album years ago for safe keeping (usually how we wind up actually losing things, right!?), I took an unexpected stroll down memory lane.
I had gone through at least a dozen books of images, old newspaper clippings, seeing members of churches we had pastored and records of events frozen in time from nearly 30 years inside institutionalized Christianity, when finally between dusty storage bins and spider webs I found what I was looking for.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, American Christianity 1939
Been reading a few quotes from the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer this evening after coming upon a post at Here I Blog: Thinking about American Christianity
You may find them of interest..
God has granted American Christianity no Reformation. He has given it strong revivalist preachers, churchmen and theologians, but no Reformation of the church of Jesus Christ by the Word of God. Anything of the churches of the Reformation which has come to America either stands in conscious seclusion and detachments from the general life of the church or has fallen victim to Protestantism without Reformation…American theology and the American church as a whole have never been able to understand the meaning of ‘criticism’ by the Word of God and all that signifies. Right to the last they do not understand that God’s ‘criticism’ touches even religion, the Christianity of the churches and the sanctification of Christians, and that God has founded his church beyond religion and beyond ethics..
Without God, all seeing and perceiving of things and laws become abstraction..For what meaning would the goodness of human beings and the world have without God? Since God, however, as ultimate reality is no other than the self-announcing, self-witnessing, self-revealing God in Jesus Christ, the question of good can only find its answer in Christ. . . . The source of a Christian ethic is not the reality of one’s own self, not the reality of the world, nor is it the reality of norms and values. It is the reality of God that is revealed in Jesus Christ.
The American separation of church and state does not rest on the doctrine of the two offices or the two realms, which will remain ordained by God until the end of the world, each with its own duty fundamentally different from the other. The dignity of the state, which is developed in Reformation doctrine more strongly than anywhere else, grows weaker in American thought. The interplay of state and church becomes a relationship of subordination in which the state is merely the executive of the church. The state is essentially technical organisation and administrative apparatus. But the dignity of the divine office appears to be lost…
The Churches of the Reformation begin from the unity of the church of Christ. There can be only one church on earth. And this church alone is the true church. Division of the church means apostasy from the church, treachery to the true Church of Christ. The division of the church which took place at the Reformation can only be understood as a struggle for the real unity of the church. . .
Christ did not, like an ethicist, love a theory about the good; he loved real people. Christ was not interested, like a philosopher, in what is “generally valid,” but in that which serves real concrete human beings. Christ was not concerned about whether “the maxim of an action” could become “a principle of moral law,” but whether my action now helps my neighbor to be a human being before God…
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 – 1945) was a German Lutheran theologian and pastor. Bonhoeffer was arrested, imprisoned and ultimately hanged just before the end of the Second World War in Europe.
Protestantism without the Reformation; Report on the American Church, 1939
related:
Todd Bentley and Emma’s Gender Change
Bill Fawcett has put together a very interesting (and excellent) post at his blog Beyond Grace, concerning Todd and the Angel referred to as ‘Emma’.
I know its not ‘really’ funny but I cracked up at Bill’s lead-in,
This is an update to an article first posted in July, 2008. Emma, who once was a female angel, had gender re-assignment surgery in June of 2008. Amazingly, she is now female once again. With God “all things are possible.”
Quick Question…
Again I read, “Among all born-again Christians, 35 percent ____”
Question: how many of you have ever been contacted by ANY of the so-called Christian polling groups and asked to participate in a poll?
just curious…
Adoration
I wept when stumbling upon this tonight at youtube. It has to be at least 25 years since I last heard it. So many memories flooded by mind…good memories of being taught by the Holy Spirit what real worship was…
Todd Bentley receiving USA ordination..
If anyone has any idea what a USA ordination is, please let me know…
Twittered by Todd,
Anointing service Tonite 7 pm Sunday 11 00 am will be preaching at Mstar and receiving USA ordination.
Purpose
“You have not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the Lord your God gives you.” Deuteronomy 12:9.
It is a richly instructive and deeply sanctifying thought- the futurity of the heavenly rest. When told that we are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the Lord our God gives us, we are gently reminded that we have each one a niche in life to occupy, a sphere to fill, a mission to perform.
The idea of personal responsibility, of individual influence, and of untiring action, instantly starts up before the mind;
“Not yet in heaven- then for what am I here? Surely it is for an object in harmony with my intellectual and spiritual being, and worthy of Him who still detains me on earth. It must be that I have something to do, or something to endure, for Christ- an active or a passive part to fill. Lord, what will You have me to do or suffer for You?”
Oh, there is a fathomless depth of divine wisdom in the arrangement that keeps us so long out of heaven. The world needs us, and we need the world. It needs us to illumine and sanctify it; we need it as the field of our conflict, and as the school of our graces. We need the world, not as a hermit’s cell, but as a vast theater, where before angels and men our Christianity is developed in the achievements of prayer, in the triumphs of faith, in the labors of love, and in the endurance of suffering.
Octavius Winslow, Morning Thoughts
What If….
We had a sub-forum on a discussion board I worked on titled ‘Do You Have a Question You Think is Kinda Dumb?’. At the beginning I didn’t realize how popular it would become–but it did. There were some very serious questions asked by the members and good discussions. I’d like to believe at least a few people received help or even answers.
Tonight I have a question for you. And frankly its not so dumb…
What brought this question to mind is the recent post and comments concerning Benny Hinn.
What if a close friend or family member…one you knew without a doubt was born again, loved Jesus, and walked the walk, came to you and told you they had been healed of a serious illness or infirmity when watching Benny Hinn on his daily TV program, as he prayed for those watching? Or perhaps as a young believer they had been taken to a BH crusade or meeting, and been healed…
Remember, this is a what if, so take it as its presented.
This is a close friend or family member, so you would have been aware of this illness, and now the evidence cannot be denied; you see it, they were healed! And they have visited their doctor who also confirms the illness or life-long infirmity is 100% gone.
What do you say…what do you tell them folks?
How do you explain to them that Benny Hinn teaches false doctrine (the prosperity gospel) but regardless, they were actually healed ?
Benny Hinn was just a convenient example–the same question could be asked substituting his name for a number of other false or at least, questionable teachers.
I look forward to hearing how you would explain this….
The Vulnerable Church
“This I will say that whatever darkness there may be in a man’s understanding, unless he feels and behaves as a sinner, justly condemned for breaking a righteous law…that is, unless you see in him penitence and brokenness…and unless he expects salvation of mere grace…that is he seems himself as a sinner and grace his only hope…and…he says…as reconciled to God, loving God’s service, longing after holiness, that holiness which the Law requires and so living holy in sincerity and truth, he cannot be saved, according to the Bible.” (Thomas Scott, 1747 – 1821)
When someone becomes a Christian they are delivered from certain very dangerous and deadly matters, things that pose a fatal danger to the eternal soul. True salvation then, the work of God, is deliverance. It is the dramatic rescue of the sinner from the elements of life that threaten to destroy and damn him.
Ours then in the work of evangelism is a work of rescue. We on behalf of God have been sent out to tell sinners God has a rescue plan. God who is by nature a deliverer, the only deliverer has a deliverance plan by which He will deliver the sinner from all those things that damn him.
In fact, there may be no better way to understand the power of God’s Spirit in the believing sinner’s life than to understand that the Spirit is working a work of deliverance. When we talk about conversion and when we talk about regeneration, when we talk about new birth, being born again, new life, transformation…when we talk about these matters of grace we are really talking about being delivered from certain things. In fact, deliverance, as we will see in this series, defines what it means to be a Christian.
This is Not That: An Analysis of John Crowder’s “The New Mystics”
From Apostasy Alert, an interesting review by Jackie Alnor concerning John Crowders book, The New Mystics. This goes beyond being just a book review–its a look into the beliefs of the new breed and their mentors, Rick Joyner, Paul Cain, Bob Jones, Todd Bentley, Tommy Tenney, John Sandford, Heidi Baker, Mike Bickle, C. Peter Wagner, Che Ahn, and Bill Johnson.
Its lengthy, but I hope you read it.
quote..
In analyzing a book that promotes itself as a manual on “how to become a part of the supernatural generation,” it must be approached with prayer and humility. The temptation to condemn everything in the book risks trampling upon holy things. John Crowder, in his book “Miracle Workers, Reformers and the New Mystics” mixes the holy with the profane. Discerning between the two, especially in gray areas, is a giant task for any believer to take on.
So this analysis will highlight the spiritual quicksand in the book so that fellow pilgrims won’t fall into the mire, just like the two travelers in the book, “Pilgrim’s Progress” put up a road sign warning others not to go the way leading to the slough of despond.
In the parables of the kingdom of heaven in the 13th chapter of the book of Matthew, Jesus told us ahead of time that the enemy would sow tares among the wheat while men slept. He also told His servants not to gather up the tares lest they uproot the wheat with them, but to wait until the harvest when all things would be revealed.
With that in mind, we can’t say whether the author of “The New Mystics” is a tare or a wheat. Nor can we say with authority what the final resting place is for the mystics he uplifts throughout the book. All we can do is test all things and hold fast to that which is good and reject what is false. Jesus said, “by their fruit you will know them.”
Notes from the ‘Ether Zone’
One doesn’t claim to be a Christian, the other Pastors a church.
The most disturbing aspect is the average lost person is just as likely to believe the first item more easily then he/she would believe the Pastor depicted in this video is an example of Christ and Christianity.
No wonder it’s so difficult to reach the lost…
And no wonder people, especially the youth, are getting swept up in demon inspired doctrines, mystical practices, and teachings of the Crowder and Bentley type teachers today..
An example of man’s attempt to make God into their own image,
JESUS was GAY – according to the gospel of SIR ELTON JOHN.
The singer makes his controversial claim about the Lord in a new US interview that will enrage America’s bible belt. Elton, 62, declares as he pours out his heart to a magazine: “I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems.” (link)
(Crazy) Pastor Ed Young of Fellowship Church releases his first recorded rap video at C3 2010. (more on Ed Young here)
Wife of prosperity televangelist Benny Hinn files for divorce
(Big thanks to Randy for pointing to this breaking story)
The wife of televangelist Benny Hinn has filed for divorce from the high-profile pastor, whose reputation as an advocate of prosperity gospel has attracted millions of followers and criticism from lawmakers and watchdog groups over his lavish lifestyle.
Suzanne Hinn filed the papers in Orange County Superior Court on Feb. 1, citing irreconcilable differences, after more than 30 years of marriage. The papers note the two separated on Jan. 26 and that Hinn has been living in Dana Point, a wealthy coastal community in southern Orange County.
“Pastor Benny Hinn and his immediate family were shocked and saddened to learn of this news without any previous notice,” Benny Hinn Ministries said Thursday in a statement. “Although Pastor Hinn has faithfully endeavored to bring healing to their relationship, those efforts failed and were met with the petition for divorce that was filed without notice.”
J. Lee Grady, contributing editor of Charisma, a news magazine on the Pentecostal community, said Hinn’s divorce is the latest in a string of high-profile ministry divorces and moral failures among the Pentecostal leaders, beginning with Ted Haggard’s fall from grace in 2006.
Haggard, who is married and has five children, admitted to receiving a massage from a male prostitute and buying drugs from him, but denied allegations he paid the man for sex.
Grady said in an e-mail Thursday that Hinn’s followers will want an explanation for the divorce because of the high profile the couple had.
“It will be devastating to the people who have supported Benny Hinn’s evangelistic work around the world,” Grady said.
“Obviously because their ministry has been very public, they will need to issue a statement to their supporters to explain how this happened,” he said.
Complete article here
Lee Grady twittered this 3 hours ago,
Sorry if I offended anyone by sending the bad news flash today about Benny Hinn. I was not rejoicing about it. He has requested prayer.
