Speaking Without the Authority

Excellent message by JD Ellis at Endtime Delusion,

Speaking Without the Authority

In some Christian circles today it seems that the only authority needed to be a prophet of God is your own desire to be one. You just proclaim yourself a prophet, start a website with a prophetic-sounding name, and begin issuing messages said to be from God. Claims are made by the modern day prophets that God favors them with prophetic ability because they are “close” to the Lord, and have cleaned up the sin in their lives. Their repentance, along with spending a great deal of time in their prayer closets, has, according to them, opened up a special conduit of communication in which God reveals the future to them, and endorses them as His special messengers. Thus, in contrast to the teaching of Paul in the New Testament on salvation, which comes through grace alone and not through works, it seems that the prophets believe their prophetic gifting comes through their works.

By studious effort, and lifting themselves up by the bootstraps, they have elevated themselves to the post of God’s chosen prophet. They seem to not know, or not care, that they are speaking for God without the authority to do so. Thus the term “self-appointed prophet” is actually very accurate, since the prophet confers the office of prophecy upon himself… (more at link)

Michele Bachmann: Natural disasters a warning to D.C.

Speaking in Florida, Michele Bachmann ventures into the risky territory of attributing political motive to natural disasters, calling the events of the last week a wake-up call from above:

“I don’t know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We’ve had an earthquake; we’ve had a hurricane. He said, ‘Are you going to start listening to me here?’ Listen to the American people because the American people are roaring right now. They know government is on a morbid obesity diet and we’ve got to rein in the spending.”  (Michele Bachmann: Natural disasters a warning to D.C.)

I’m sorry but this is disgusting. Bachmann should be deeply concerned that she’s not only attributing these disasters to God’s warning to Washington, but that she claims to speak for Him. 

Is there any level politicians won’t sink to? Apparently not.  

Seven Biblical Answers to Popular Zionist Assumptions

Thanks for passing on the link Steve! 

Stephen Sizer has posted an excellent study: Seven Biblical Answers to Popular Zionist Assumptions

I especially like the manner in which he shows the harmony between the Old Testament Church (Saints) and the New Testament Church.

Move Over Tim LaHaye

 Ah yes, just what we need, another author and his own speculative Last Days series of novels not based on the bible.

New “Islamic Anti-Christ” Novel Series on the Way  

Joel Richardson has good news for those who think that what the world needs is more novels about how current events are a sign of the Last Days:

THE JIHAD’S MESSIAH (JIHAD SERIES BOOK I) In a future when world power has shifted to the Middle East, and the Arab nations have signed a seven-year peace treaty with Israel, a radical Iraqi leader-known as Al-Mahdi, “the Awaited One” -rises to power promising to convert the world to Islam…

(More at link above)

“If It Quacks Like a Duck…” – The Dominionism Cover-Up

There is a considerable amount of backpeddling going on now that Dominionism has made the national news. A chorus of establishment media have stuck their heads into the sand are are blindly crying, “Dominionism? What dominionism? I don’t see any Dominionism!” Most of these reporters who have never heard of it didn’t bother to take the time to research it, and therefore say it doesn’t exist. Joining the liberal media in this chorus is a host of evangelical leaders, some of them longtime Dominionists, who are spouting the same denials. What strange bedfellows indeed!

The most prominent denial, of course is C. Peter Wagner’s public letter, covered in our previous post, in which he asserts that his Dominionist NAR is neither Dominionist, nor a cult. Also issuing a denial was prominent Dominionist Os Hillman who helped launched the 7 Mountains movement and runs the reclaim7mountains website. Hillman is retrenching. He issued a syrupy brief statement[1] emphasizing that “Dominion, or perhaps a better word to use is influence, is a result of our love and obedience to God, not a goal to be achieved.” However, the rest of his statement confirms the basic Dominionism platform of Genesis 1:28, adding in the neo-Kuyperian spheres and the idea of restoring heaven to earth:

This is why Jesus prayed that whatever was in heaven would be manifested on the earth. He was wanting to restore all that had been lost. His desire for His people has always been for them to be at the top of every sphere of society….

The NAR isn’t the only group promoting the 7 mountains. Wagner and his NAR crowd are the ones getting all of the media attention because of their zany antics. But there is a whole backup crew of organizations that have been around for decades, pumping out the doctrines of restoring or redeeming the fallen culture by integrating the Church into the various hubs of Society. This isn’t about the narrow group of Reconstructionists that the mainstream press has caricatured for years. Rather, generic Dominionism has now reached out into the mainstream evangelical milieu via conferences, books, technology, and media. There is even sophisticated image marketing for branding certain forms of Dominionism.

So who is doing the “spin” and denying Dominionism? An interesting mixture (of) media and evangelical leaders. For example:…

See, Herescope: Denying Dominionism – The Dominionism Cover-Up 

Jesus said there will come men who will speak claiming their authority is from me…

“Jesus said there will come men who will speak claiming their authority is from me…There will come men who will speak in my Name. That is, I am supposedly saying this to you — that’s a very important phrase! They are going to come and say I’m speaking to you in my Name, they will work miracles in my Name, they will cast out devils…they will prophesy and preach. But when I meet them I will say, leave me, I never knew you, workers of iniquity!  

Why? Because they use His authority and His Name because the power was in Jesus’ Name, or in Jesus’ authority, not in them. And God honored the Name of His Son. And they took that as a means of teaching their own false doctrines and false prophecies and because of that they corrupted the faith of the church. But inwardly, spiritually, they really roooaaar! And if you don’t know fleece from fur, you’re dinner…. And the only way you can know fleece from fur is to know how to test them. And you don’t test them by Walter Martin or by Norman Geisler, as good as the apologist and defenders of Christianity might be and as much as you trust them. You don’t test them by other people. You test them by Scripture. Then if your fidelity is the Scripture, and your allegiance is the Scripture, you reject them! 

But, says Paul, in the last days men are going to be drawn away by false teachers and prophets in the Church speaking in the Name of Jesus and you’re not going to test them. You’re going to go along with them. And they’re going to fragment and divide the Church because you won’t test them.” (Excerpt from Dr. Walter Martin’s 1988 Warning to the Church )

Marsha West includes the above excerpt in her newest article,  Christian leaders: It’s about time you test false teachers

I’ll add this: The time is long overdue that ALL Christians start testing (by the Word of God) everything they hear (and see) coming from anyone who claims to be a Christian.  

Lou Engle Partners With the Second Coming of Moses & other items of interest…

Been catching up on some reading today & want to pass along a few items which interested me…

This first one is a doozy. Lou Engle (The Call) now has a co-host for his upcoming November Call rally in Detroit, one David E. Taylor who calls himself a “face to face prophet, like unto Moses”

Taylor’s official biography states: “Since 1989 from the time that he was 17 years old, he has been granted well over 1000 face-to-face visitation appearances from Jesus Christ personally.”….In fact, Taylor contends that Jesus appointed him to be America’s Moses.. (See: Engle Partners With The Second Coming Of Moses For The Call)

Bill Fawcett at Beyond Grace has posted something very interesting concerning a prophecy given out by Bob Jones in 1983 called the “White Horse Prophecy” . (See: Mike Bickle – the White Horse Prophecy)

In the past week a number of dominionist NAR “Apostles” have emailed out letters and made public statements defending their beliefs/doctrines claiming ‘We’re not Dominionists!’. (Yeah, sure, tell me another one). Herescope has posted on Wagner’s lame defense. (See: C. Peter Wagner Spins the NAR)

This may not interest anyone but me, but having worked in public education it made me sick,

Two weeks before Thanksgiving in 2003, top officials from Texas Governor Rick Perry’s office pitched an unusual offer to the state’s retired teachers: Let’s get into the death business. Perry’s budget director, Mike Morrissey, laid out a pitch that was both ambitious and risky, according to notes summarizing the meeting provided to The Huffington Post. According to the notes, which were authenticated by a meeting participant, the Perry administration wanted to help Wall Street investors gamble on how long retired Texas teachers would live.

Perry was promising the state big money in exchange for helping Swiss banking giant UBS set up a business of teacher death speculation. All they had to do was convince retirees to let UBS buy life insurance policies on them. When the retirees died, those policies would pay out benefits to Wall Street speculators, and the state, supposedly, would get paid for arranging the bets. The families of the deceased former teachers would get nothing.

The governor’s office was even prepared to put down a little cash up front. If retirees balked at the notion of the state profiting from their deaths, Perry’s budget men suggested they could be persuaded for the cost of a pair of shoes, according to the meeting notes. If a retiree signed a contract allowing the state’s teacher pension fund to buy life insurance on them, the governor was prepared to give them between $50 and $100….The notes make clear that the governor’s proposal deliberately targeted the elderly. The state was only seeking to take out life insurance on people between the ages of 75 and 90. (See:Rick Perry Sought State Profits From Teacher Life Insurance Scheme)

Remember this expose when reading articles like this one: Rick Perry & the evangelicals: A marriage made in heaven

Photo of the Day

Dog of Fallen Navy SEAL, Officer Jon Tumilson, Refuses To Leave Casket (VIDEO)

Beck Warns Audience They May “Pay The Ultimate Price” If They Follow Him

If I recall correctly Mormons believe man can become a god. Looks like Beck’s well on his way to achieving “deity-hood” as he exhibits what I believe is a messiah-complex in this clip below… 

Clip from Glenn Beck’s August 24 “Restoring Courage” event in Jerusalem

Who Said It?

“..it’s going to change lives. It is a life changing, and I think planet course-altering event.” …”The other thing that’s going to happen – it’s either going to be something that everybody ignores, or, I swear to you, and I mean this sincerely, there’s a possibility a pillar of fire appears.”

“Somebody sent this to me…he said, ‘I’ve looked into this, and I think this might be right.’ …he said, ‘I believe (this) may be, may be, a fulfillment of Zechariah prophecy’…

Aw come on, you know…  

Televangelist World: TBN & CBN

Just a couple items I found interesting.. 

This morning on facebook Jackie Alnor reported on TBN’s live coverage of Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Courage” event in Caesarea Israel,

7PM – Special programming from Caesarea with Glen Beck, Matthew & Laurie Crouch, John Hagee and David Barton:

“Just watched the TBN airing of the Glenn Beck “Restoring Courage” event in Caesarea, Israel that is going on all week. There was a lot of real cheese in the rat trap. This inter-faith religious event is to assure the Israeli government that we back them no matter what. You might try to watch it on TBN’s archives when it posts or at gbtv.com”

TBN, Glenn Beck, John Hagee and David Barton; Heretical birds flocking together. 

 I see TBN is planning to air Beck’s ‘event’ in Jerusalem as well,

Glenn Beck – Restoring Courage: The Courage to Stand (Jerusalem Event) Special programming from Jerusalem with Glenn Beck, Matthew & Laurie Crouch, Jon Voight and Dudu Fisher. Program Schedule: Special show times: Wed 8/31 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Thu 9/1 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

RWW is reporting that  CBN’s Pat Robertson has identified the antichrist,

This week The 700 Club is hosting a series about the End Times, and host Pat Robertson says he has identified the Antichrist: Islam. Robertson, a fierce critic of Islam who has likened Muslims to Nazis, told co-host Terry Meeuwsen during today’s program that Islam is the Antichrist which will usher in the end of the world. Recently, Robertson has been regularly warning of a treacherous alliance of radical Muslims, progressives and the media that he contends is seeking to destroy America and Christianity

Ever notice the terms America & Christianity are always synonymous when used by many folks? I get the impression they actually believe without an America, as they perceive it being, Christianity would disappear from the face of the earth.

 

Did Glenn Beck just jump the shark in Israel?

Not satisfied with spreading his conspiracies, paranoia, and insanity in America alone, Beck has decided to take his show on the road beginning with stirring up religious and political dissension within Israel.  

It isn’t just members of the US Congress who are making a beeline for Israel for summer vacation (more than 80 members of Congress are enjoying all-expenses-paid trips to the Holy Land). Glenn Beck, the far-right radio personality and ardent Zionist, is heading there soon and is currently seeking to drum up support for his “Restoring Courage” event scheduled for Jerusalem on Aug. 24.

Just as the Fonz’s days were numbered the moment he jumped over a shark-infested pen on his summer trip to California (I originally misidentified the infamous shark-jump as having taken place in Hawaii, thanks to readers for pointing out the error), Mr. Beck is in danger of alienating a large section of his target audience on his coming vacation.

Christian Science Monitor, Did Glenn Beck just jump the shark in Israel?

Beck’s not too happy with Speaker John Boehner,  

Boehner Won’t Allow House Members To Attend Beck’s J’lem Rally, Lieberman And Cantor Now Say They Won’t Go

Michael Horton: The Politics of Enthusiasm

At the White Horse Inn, Michael Horton has written an excellent article

Just as the Iowa straw-poll concluded last Saturday, with Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul taking first and second place, Texas Governor Rick Perry announced his candidacy. Happily, the kingdom of Christ is neither threatened nor furthered by the kingdoms of this age. Nevertheless, the way in which not only the media but professing Christians distort Christianity in public should be of serious concern to all Christians—including those who support the political agenda of offending candidates.

…why is it that so many public figures belong to strange churches or identify with extreme movements and leaders?

Kanon the 4 yr old Preacher

I have nothing to say…

He’s only a pre-schooler, but Kanon Tipton has become a YouTube sensation with his pentecostal preaching.

Millions have viewed video clips of Tipton as a 21-month-old and now as a 4-year-old preaching from the pulpit of his father’s church in Grenada, Miss., in a manner much like many evangelists – everything from shouting and waving his arms to jumping and wiping his forehead with a handkerchief.

Kanon, along with another “pint-sized preacher,” is the subject of (a) Wednesday night special on the National Geographic Channel.  (CPost)

Tears in a Bottle

Psalm 56:8 – Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

The National museum in Tehran, Iran, has ancient artifacts dating back some 6,000 years. In that museum there are some odd shaped bottles. When a husband went off to war, the wife or loved one would weep and collect their tears in a bottle, and upon his return she would hand to her beloved the bottle of tears — they spoke louder than the words ‘I love you’. Scripture tells us that God has a bottle, in which He collects our tears.

Strange Scriptures for the Western mind, but the old Middle Eastern custom of collecting the tears of the family and preserving tears in bottles is normal. When death or serious trouble occurred, each member of the family brought his or her tear bottle and collected tears from all the persons present. These bottles were sacred to the family members because they represented all the sorrows of the family. Each person was buried with his or her tear bottle. Many of these have been found in ancient tombs.

King David was someone who knows what it is to shed many tears. Yet even in his tears and in exile, he finds comfort. He realizes that God is taking note of everything he is going through. A record is being kept in God’s book of all that he suffers. Even his tears are not shed in vain. They are tears of grief and loneliness, but not of despair. There is a future to them. At present they are a token of suffering, but one day each tear will become the theme for a song of praise. So David says to God, “Put my tears in Thy bottle—store them up carefully for me.”

Suffering is an almost inevitable part of human life, but it is not necessarily evil. Its outcome will depend on how we react to it. There is an old saying: “To be beautiful one must suffer.” Suffering endured in faith and for the sake of righteousness imparts a unique beauty that death cannot destroy.

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us”

May God encourage Your heart today. He knows what You are going through and He is able. 

by Dr. Joseph Chavady (SermonIndex)  

Tears, though they are silent—yet have a voice, “The Lord has heard the voice of my weeping!” (Psalm 6:8). Tears water our graces and make them flourish. Where the springs of sorrow run—there the heart bears a fruitful crop. The tender-eyed Christian usually brings forth more of the fruit of the Spirit. A weeping eye is the water-pot to water our graces. (Thomas Watson, “The Beatitudes” 1660: “Blessed are those who mourn.” Matthew 5:8) 

Money Equals Spiritual Worth

  According to this ignoramus money equals ones spiritual worth. If true, most Christians (including myself) aren’t spiritually worth $.02 

Televangelist James Robison hosted Daniel Lapin of Toward Tradition on today’s program Life Today… Abramoff Ally Daniel Lapin Says Money Equals Spiritual Worth

Fellow Christians: Educate yourself about the New Apostolic Reformation

Three years ago I watched many of my fellow Christians jump blindly on the Sarah Palin bandwagon based solely upon the belief she was a Christian. It was quite a shock, to put it mildly, to log on line the morning after she was introduced at the Republican convention and see the sheer number of Christian bloggers (and on-line ministries) who were already promoting her on their websites. It quickly became apparent these brothers and sisters knew no more about her (except her claim to be Christian) then I did. But that didn’t stop them from blindly “buying a pig in a poke”. It wasn’t until later it became known that Sarah Palin had close ties to members of the New Apostolic Reformation and had their backing.

Now in 2011, we are in a same but some-what different position my friends. Different in that we know now the NAR is at least backing & promoting one candidate in order to further their dominionist agenda by  laying claim to the ‘mountain of government.’ That candidate is Rick Perry.

Already I’m reading on a number of Christian blogs/boards/ and forums today, in which Christians in the face of knowing beforehand Perry is being backed by C. Peter Wagner and his New Apostolic Reformation/Joel’s Army/false Apostle-Prophet posse, an eager willingness to support him. And brethren, its one thing to be ignorant of truth and another to willfully ignore it once you’ve been made aware it. We will be held accountable for what we know.

In my opinion God is being merciful, for He sees our lack of discernment & has left no doubt this time around as to what (and who) we will be aligning with if we jump on the Perry/NAR bandwagon: Heresy, false Prophets/Apostles and teachers, and the unbiblical false doctrines of dominionism.

A few links…

Disinformation and Misinformation – Becoming Educated About the New Apostolic Reformation 

The Ideology and History of the New Apostolic Reformation

Why Have the Apostles Behind Rick Perry’s Prayer Rally Been Invisible to Most Americans?

The Kingdom of God and Dominion Theology

Understanding The “Apostle” In The New Apostolic Reformation

This list of what qualifies one as a modern day ‘apostle’ (according to the NAR’s Peter Wagner) is interesting. 

For all the recent talk about the New Apostolic Reformation, one of the issues that has largely gone uncovered is just what it means to be an “apostle” within this movement. I have recently been reading C. Peter Wagner’s “Apostles Today: Biblical Government for Biblical Power” in which he helpfully sets out his definition…  RWW: Understanding The “Apostle” In The New Apostolic Reformation

Christianity has lost credibility in America

Over-all, Christianity has lost credibility in America. Disagree with me if you will, but I believe it.

If it’s not the (religious and/or political) dominionists, who by the way have taken center-stage (Rick Perry’s Army of God) its the delusional, so-called Christians making wild accusations (There’s a Muslim in the White House). One one hand both use their public platform’s claiming to be Christians (representatives of Jesus Christ) while on the other hand they spread poisonous doctrines and lies. In the eyes of the general public these ‘nuts on parade’ represent Christianity.  Is it any wonder it’s become more difficult then ever to get a lost soul to seriously listen to the Good News?

You know these groups and folks do not represent Christ and Christianity, but regrettably others do not…

What is Joel’s Army?

Jackie Alnor shared the link to this excellent video/expose at FaceBook. Watching it all in one sitting may not be possible, but check it out. Perhaps, if interested, you may want to watch it in segments. So, what is Joel’s Army?

Army / New Breed movement exposed Joel’s

Jesus of Nazareth and the Temple’s destruction

This newest teaching from Messianic Good News answers a question which has plagued me for years, concerning the Western Wall…

Quote 

Not only did God choose to speak through people, but people often choose to speak on behalf of God. How then do we tell the difference between those entrusted with Divine revelation and those spreading false messages in His name?

The test is given in Deuteronomy 18: “You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?” If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him” (verses 21-22).

The Israelites were inclined to listen to the comforting words of the false prophets and often persecuted and even put to death those speaking for God. Yet, by the test of Deut. 18, the false prophets were eventually shown up for their lies and the true prophets vindicated.

Before the Babylonian exile, several false prophets prophesied “peace peace, when there was no peace.”[1] Jeremiah, on the other hand, faithfully foretold the destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple. For this he was despised and beaten and then incarcerated in a pit.[2]

Subsequent events proved that Jeremiah spoke with God’s authority: “On the seventh day of the fifth month … Nabuzaradan commander of the imperial guard … set fire to the temple of the LORD, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building was burnt down” (2 Kings 25:7). Vindicated by history, Jeremiah’s prophesies were then accepted as the word of God and included in the Tanach.

The Temple was again destroyed in the time of Jesus of Nazareth. In full view of the magnificent buildings rebuilt after the exile, Jesus uttered his famous prophecy: “”Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down … this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened”” (New Testament, Matthew 24:2,34)

Shortly before this Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers and drove out the merchants from the Temple courts.[3] The Jewish ruling class had fostered cordial relations with the Romans, and acquired much wealth from those who came to worship at the Temple. Impending calamity was inconceivable in the face of such prosperity (as it is once again in the Land of Israel at the present time!)

The Temple was utterly destroyed within the time Jesus predicted. What is today called the Western Wall was a retaining wall built by Herod the Great to enlarge and fortify the platform (plinth) on which his extended Temple complex once stood.

“The western part of the fortified wall, behind which the Roman garrison (the tenth legion), kept guard among the ruins, remained intact. That is the wall at which pilgrims weep to this day (Kotel Ma’arabi), assuming it to be the surviving wall of the Temple.” [Moshe Spiegel translation of Simon Dubnov, History of the Jews from the beginning to early Christianity, Thomas Yoseloff Ltd., London, 1967, vol.1, p.795.]

That the Temple fell in the year 70, less than 40 years after the crucifixion, fulfills Jesus’ prediction that its destruction would come on that generation. It follows the precedent of the 40 years God gave during the Exodus to the generation that spurned Him by refusing to enter the Land.[4]

There are further details that make the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy even more remarkable:

“”When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written” (Luke 21:20-22).

Continued at Messianic Good News

The New Religious Right And Its Threat To The Church

By Brannon Howse (WorldViewWeekend)

Perry’s “The Response” is over and now some pro-family and evangelical leaders that were involved in this unbiblical rally are trying to convince Christians that those who warned against the event were wrong. If I was wrong then the Bible is wrong and I can promise you the Bible is not wrong.

The New Apostolic Reformation, International House of Prayer, and Word of Faith false teachers were involved in the event and that is what made the entire event unbiblical.(2 Corinthians 6:14, 2 John 9-11).

People can claim Jesus was exalted but Jesus is never exalted when people disobey His Word and give credibility to false teachers. Even if John MacArthur, Alistair Begg, Jimmy DeYoung, Erwin Lutzer, and other great Bible teachers were speaking at The Response, it would have still been an unbiblical event. The reason respected Bible teachers were NOT in attendance is because I believe they understood that uniting with and giving credibility to false teachers is a clear violation of Scripture. Romans 16:17-18:

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

I believe many of our pro-family and “evangelical” leaders are indeed simpletons and were deceived by the “smooth words and flattering speech” of the New Apostolic Reformation and Word of Faith leaders.

Here is a list of just a few projects where members of the New Religious Right (NRR) are working with members of the New Apostolic Reformation and Word of Faith…

Continued Here

What Do We Say About This?

Rick Frueh at Judah’s Lion: What Do We Say About This?

quote..

An evangelical pastor in Iran was arrested in October of 2009 and given the sentence of death unless he recanted his faith in Jesus Christ. He has been tortured, and in July of 2011 all appeals were rejected. In January of 2011 he wrote this letter to his brothers and sisters from behind prison walls:

“Saturday, January 08, 2011,

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

When someone internalizes the revelation of the Truth, he will be willing to share it with others and future generations. We are indebted to the people who, in the past, fought for the Truth, allowing us to have access to this glorious revelation of Jesus Christ. These believers understood the richness and the beauty of the revelation and they were ready to fight in order to pass down the fruit of the revelation. How can we bear similar fruit for eternal life? It depends on the way we choose.

First we have to close our ears to the voice of the darkness as it is written in the first psalm: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalm 1:1.

The second thing is to open our ears to the Voice of the Spirit speaking through the Word of God, as it is written: But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:2

The fruit of communion with the Lord through his Life-giving Word is stability in this life and eternal fruit that others bear in their life, as the Scriptures say: And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:3

“Come” A lot of people admire Jesus as a unique model to follow for generations and a lot of people would like to become like Him. Jesus did not come to be admired but to give us a perfect model to follow.

If we want to be like Him, we need to take a step of faith, like Peter. When the apostle saw his Lord walking on the furious sea, he asked to come to Him on the water. Jesus said: “Come!” Everyone willing to follow the Lord is supposed to have listened in some way to this seemingly imperious command: “Come!” a command which implies an act of faith, referred to sometimes as the “leap of faith.”

As it is clear from the Scriptures, what we are able to see is not faith, as the biblical faith is defined as : “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” We have to decide “in spite of”’, in order to experience the power of God. But we need to remember that everything must be done according the Word of God.

Peter did not experience the possibility to walk on water because he decided to leave the boat but because of the Word, the Command of the Lord. The Word of God tell us to “expect to suffer hardship” and dishonor for the sake of His Name. Our Christian confession is not acceptable if we ignore this statement, if we do not manifest the patience of the Lord in our sufferings. Anybody ignoring it will be ashamed in that day.

Let us remember that sometimes the leap of faith leads us towards some impasses. Just as the Word led the sons of Israel leaving Egypt toward the impasse of the Red sea. These impasses are midway between promises of God and their fulfillment and they challenge our faith. Believers are to accept these challenges as a part of their spiritual course.

The Son was challenged at Calvary in the hardest way, as it is written in the Scriptures:“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” Hebrew 5:7-8

The cry “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” is enough to express the sufferings of our Lord at Calvary.

Behind this cry of distress, we can identify the great faith that led Him to accept the will of the Father. Yea, He knew that God will “not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” and he was to rise up within 3 days.

Beyond the power of death, the Lord perceived the victorious power of the resurrection. I don’t need to write anything further about the basis of faith. Let us remember that beyond beautiful or painful feelings, only three things remain: Faith, Hope and Love. It is important for believers to make sure which kind of Faith, Hope and Love will remain.

Only what we receive according the Word remains forever. I would encourage you to live in a way that is worthy to the Holy calling of the Word. Let believers, who are heirs of the glory, be examples for others in order to be a witness of the power of Christ for the world and the future. I beg you to live according the Word of God in order to chase the powers of darkness that generates doubts in your heart.

The overcoming faith that casts out the doubt comes by hearing the Word of God.Only a church based on the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ will remain, for beyond the protection of the Word of God the destroyer destroys. Let us keep His Holy Testimony.

Your brother in Christ,

Youcef Nadarkhani

As you can see from his letter, this pastor was not interested in economic policies or moral issues within Iran. His heart has been consumed with being a faithful witness of Jesus Christ, and if necessary, a faithful martyr. These are the kind of testimonies that should make us in the west blush when we suggest our own persecution. And in the face of our Christless political involvement, our economic murmuring, and our blatant attacks on unsaved sinners, this man stands as a living indictment to our diluted brand of Christianity.

My heart is overwhelmed when I read his words, and I pray God will continue to strengthen him, as well as use this to bring the western church to repentance.

(Posted by Rick Frueh)

Capt. Israel: “A Super-Hero for our Time”

(HT) With flaming Menorah and all, StandWithUs introduces “Capt. Israel“ 

Jackie Alnor: Do You Really Want to Join this Rally?

quote…

Christians around the world reacted in such shock that the media would dare to label the Norway terrorist a “fundamentalist Christian,” when in fact he was a hate-filled degenerate with no connections to the Christian faith whatsoever. But these allegations did not come out of a vacuum.

There are voices in the “Christian” media chanting slogans all over the public airwaves calling for Christians to rise up and take dominion over the entire world. There are groups that gather in large numbers at political prayer gatherings chanting affirmations such as: “We’re taking back the world for Christ” “We’re the head and not the tail”- and the world takes notice. Preachers in mega-churches are telling their congregations to “take back what the devil stole” in the marketplace, economics, entertainment, politics, and everywhere in society.

This chatter that permeates social media is bringing persecution upon all professing Christians who get labeled as one of them – especially when all streams in this polluted river join together for a show of force and unity. But where did this cocky collective Christian attitude originate that appears to the onlooking public as a threat to their freedoms? Besides from the prince of the power of the air, it comes from his agents who have wormed themselves into the professing church and seek to climb to the top of the heap.

Hitching their star to a presidential candidate, such as Texas Governor Rick Perry, the Joel’s Army visionaries are trying to position themselves to expand their power base. The Response (name of the prayer rally in Houston for America on behalf of Perry’s potential presidential bid) is an attempt of the Mother Harlot to ride the Beast of secular power.

There have been many efforts over the past couple of decades by Joel’s Army leaders to capture a critical mass of people and rally the troops behind them. A leading “prophet” in the movement is Bill Hamon, founder of Christian International Ministries in Florida. He calls the current effort to bring people together “the Saints Movement” in an ongoing effort to achieve what he calls “the restoration process” of the Church – the idea of restoring secular authority back to the Church that was once held by the Roman Catholic Church.

In an interview with The Voice Magazine, he describes where he believes we are now,

“We are at the prophetic-apostolic. The prophetic movement of the 80s brought in the prophet. And in the 90s it was the apostle. Now we have all five ascension gifts fully restored. Now we can get busy, working, training, equipping, and activating the saints to demonstrate the Kingdom of God…Now it’s the whole Body of Christ arising and demonstrating the supernatural. We will see the Body of Christ coming forth in the Saints Movement. We’ve crossed over the Jordan. The moment you cross over Jordan you’re going into warfare. As fanatical as it may sound to fundamental evangelical Christians, the Church is destined to subdue all things and put all things under Christ’s feet before He actually literally returns from heaven…The Church is being prepared now for the next moves of God. After the Saints Movement will be the Army of the Lord Movement. The next movement after that will be the Kingdom Establishment Movement.”

So-called prophet Bob Jones is one referred to in the circles of dominion-seeking “Protestants.” Leaders like Rick Joyner of MorningStar and Mike Bickle of IHOP point to him as the one who gave them their marching orders. Jones blatantly teaches the Joel’s Army idea that the end-times church will go to war with the world and come out on top before the Lord’s return. How odd that Jones is still admired when he was exposed as the pervert he is years ago when he used his “prophetic office” to molest women. Jones claims to be taken up to heaven on a regular basis. On one occasion, he described his heavenly garments as diapers,

“I had a pamper on,” Jones told Mike Bickle who was interviewing him. “And I really messed it good. It was running down both my legs. And the Lord had ahold of my hand and I was a bawlin and a squallin…And so it was like the angels come and changed my pamper and washed me up and the next thing I knew I was back in bed.”

Read full article here

Texas Governor’s Upcoming Event Includes Cult Members

Marsha West has put together an excellent post. The many links included offer a well of information. 

Personally, I’m glad to finally see someone nail the AFA (American Family Association). The AFA, as well as Tony Perkins and his Family Research Council are NOT Christian organizations. Perhaps one or both were at some point in the past, I can’t say. But I can say neither one has been since they showed-up on my radar three a years ago.  

The prayer event I’m speaking of is The Response: a call to prayer for a nation in crisis. The cult Gov. Rick Perry has involved himself with is the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). The NAR has dozens of offshoots and an assortment of names such as Dominionists, Latter Rain, Kansas City Prophets, Third Wave, Joel’s Army, Manifest(ed) Sons of God, Five-Fold Ministry, to name a few. Another offshoot, and the one I’ll deal with here, is the International House of Prayer (IHOP), a splinter group of the Kansas City Prophets. Confusing?

The American Family Association (AFA) is sponsoring the event. AFA is part of the Religious Right a.k.a. the Christian Right (CR). Is the fact that cultists are involved just a slip up or a failure on the part of AFA to fact check? No. They know perfectly well who these people are and have decided to unite with them anyway.

See:  TEXAS GOVERNOR’S UPCOMING PRAYER EVENT INCLUDES CULT MEMBERS (By Marsha West)