TRUTH is the key word for the Church today. I have written much about it over the past year, yet many still seem more willing to gather under the banner of LOVE, GRACE, MERCY, BELIEF, and RELATIONSHIP…on and on the list goes. (I would urge you to read my previous blog which has great relevance to this subject: http://journeyinsightandlife-truths.blogspot.com/2012/06/love-perversion-satans-secret-heresy.html)And…do not get me wrong…those things are of great importance in the realm of Christianity, with each and every facet of what we label “salvation” being essential elements of what we believe as Christians. And, suffice it to say, that each and every aspect of our relationship with God is of the utmost importance.
So…what do I mean, then, when I say that TRUTH is the key word of the Church today?
There is a word which applies greatly here which I have not yet mentioned: CONVERSION.
Merriam-Webster defines CONVERSION this way:
1. The act of converting: the process of being converted
2. An experience associated with the definite and decisive adoption of a religion
In the Christian/Religious realm, we often speak of CONVERSION. We talk of “converts” as we speak of those who have become Christian…or to those who have “converted” to some other religion. Cassius Clay was the name of the most famous boxer in history before his CONVERSION to the Islamic faith…as he then became known as Muhammad Ali. Ali became a CONVERT to Islam.
In Christianity, we most often say that someone has gotten “saved”…recognizing that the convert has escaped the certainty of an eternity in hell…separated for eternity from God. This is accomplished by GRACE through FAITH in Jesus Christ: Ephesians 2:8 NKJV says “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God…” This work of GRACE in our lives is evidenced by our REPENTANCE…and it is this REPENTANCE that works in us the REMISSION OF SINS which is wrought in us by GRACE (Luke 3:3 NKJV “And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins…”).
But, in all of this, it is TRUTH which remains the KEY word for the Church today.
Again…you are probably asking “Why?”
Notice this in what I have written thus far: even Muhammad Ali was a “convert” to a RELIGION. Ali chose to place his trust and faith in the god of Islam. In doing so, Ali placed his ALLEGIANCE in that god. Regardless of our personal beliefs and thoughts on Islam, some of its tenets of faith are LOVE, GRACE, MERCY, BELIEF, and RELATIONSHIP. Now, those are not ALL of its beliefs…but those are indeed listed among its MANY beliefs.
As Christians…placing our BELIEF in the Word of God, The Bible…we recognize that Muhammad Ali has placed his faith in a FALSE GOD. When we are discussing a totally different RELIGION, it is so much easier to see the serious error and condition caused by MISPLACED FAITH. We easily acknowledge that those who follow some other religion…other than Christianity…is pursuing a god which does not even truly exist. In this way, it is easy to see that TRUTH is absent from a convert’s faith in the realm of Islamic belief.
But…what happens when, within the realm of Christianity, someone’s faith is placed in something other than TRUTH?
You see…all of the essential words regarding our SALVATION…LOVE, GRACE, MERCY, BELIEF, and RELATIONSHIP…have to have their basis rooted in TRUTH. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the embodiment of TRUTH when Jesus spoke these words: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6 NKJV) Thus, we can realize and understand that TRUTH is ESSENTIAL in our belief system.
But…too often in the Church…TRUTH is mixed with FALSE DOCTRINE. In many cases, people are becoming CONVERTS to a Christianity that doesn’t even truly exist!
Think about it!
Jesus taught this: Matthew 6:31-33 NKJV “Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Notice here that Jesus is placing the emphasis on what we are SEEKING…what we are PURSUING. In Matthew 7:7 Jesus would say “…seek, and you will find…” In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God said “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
We are called to SEEK!
WHAT we SEEK is KEY…before we even BEGIN to focus on the “how” of SEEKING!
So…again…what is my primary focus as I state: “TRUTH is the key word for the Church today.“?
I regularly write about the dangers of FALSE DOCTINE. I have given MANY ways to examine and evaluate that FALSE DOCTRINE…comparing FALSE DOCTRINE to PARASITES, COMPUTER VIRUSES, and POISON. Each of these analogies are applicable…and FALSE DOCTRINE is not only DANGEROUS, but it is also EFFECTIVE in these various ways. But, there is one way in which FALSE DOCTRINE is both DANGEROUS and EFFECTIVE that I have yet to mention: its ability to create FALSE CONVERSIONS.
I recently wrote these words in a FB post:
“A true revelation from God this morning regarding the false doctrines of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL as I pondered His Word: IF God truly wanted to bless all believers by bestowing on them EARTHLY wealth and riches, making all Christians FINANCIALLY WEALTHY, then the world would SURELY begin to want to follow Jesus....but they would do so FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS! If all Christians were promised financial/earthly wealth here on earth, people would come to Christ out of a desire for/of:
RICHES instead of RIGHTEOUSNESS.
LUXURY instead of LOVE.
WEALTH instead of WISDOM.
HOARDING instead of HOLINESS.
SUPPLIES instead of SERVANTHOOD.
OPULENCE instead of OBEDIENCE.
JEWELRY instead of JESUS.
GREED instead of GRACE.
And what we are seeing in the Church today is a group of "believers" who have NOT "come to Christ" to SERVE Him...but they have come to Christ to USE Him. In many cases, what they "believe in" is the PROSPERITY GOSPEL...but they actually do not believe in Jesus! There is a HUGE difference!”
The BIG question is: what is a CONVERT to the PROSPERITY GOSPEL actually CONVERTING to?
You see…as I have written EXTENSIVELY on this subject (and I will only briefly delve into it here again)…the PROSPERITY GOSPEL is NOT a “gospel” at all…and it is FAR from being TRUTH! The PROSPERITY GOSPEL is a FALSE TEACHING done by those who seek to USE the Word of God and Christianity as a source for GAINING WEALTH. Notice the words of Paul to Timothy:
1 Timothy 6:3-10 NKJV
“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. “
Here are the essentials of the teachings of this passage:
1. There is TRUTH. (“wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness”)
2. There is FALSE DOCTRINE. (“If anyone teaches otherwise…he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words…destitute of the truth”)
3. The PROSPERITY GOSPEL is FALSE DOCTRINE. (“he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words…destitute of the truth, WHO SUPPOSE THAT GODLINESS IS A MEANS OF GAIN.” note: emphasis added)
4. We are told to STAY AWAY from FALSE DOCTRINE. (“From such withdraw yourself.”)
5. There is a TRUE “godliness." (“Now godliness with CONTENTMENT is great gain.” note: emphasis added)
6. There is a TRUTH about CONTENTMENT. (“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”)
7. Those who seek RICHES are FALLING into a TRAP of SATAN due to GREED. (“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”)
With these ESSENTIAL truths in mind…what happens when someone is “converted” to the PROSPERITY GOSPEL?
Notice this with me: a CONVERT to Christianity…which Jesus called the GOSPEL…comes to Christ as they SEEK Him. They are placing their faith in Jesus Christ…believing that God sent His Son to earth to die for our sins, that Jesus died on the cross, that Jesus rose again on the 3rd day, that Jesus is alive and sitting at the right hand of the Father, that their salvation is by grace through faith and not by works, and that those who believe on Jesus will spend eternity with Him.
Now…a CONVERT to the PROSPERITY GOSPEL comes to Christ as they seek FINANCIAL GAIN. The message they hear is “God wants all Christians to be rich!” When they hear this, they BELIEVE it. Out of a belief that God wants all Christians financially wealthy here on earth, “converts” to the PROSPERITY GOSPEL are told that God promises that they can be rich if they accept Him as their Savior. God becomes the HUNTED…not due to love or grace or a desire to serve Him…but due to the fact that He is supposedly offering a life of wealth and luxury.
In this way…CONVERTS to the PROSPERITY GOSPEL are not “converted” to TRUTH…they are “converted” under the lies of FALSE DOCTRINE. Jesus becomes the way to FINANCIAL PROSPERITY…not the way to “truth” and “life”. The focus of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL places the CONVERSION into an EARTHLY realm…where the benefits of SALVATION are EARTHLY in nature. The focus of the TRUE GOSPEL places the CONVERSION in the HEAVENLY realm…where the benefits of SALVATION are ETERNAL in nature.
The TRUE GOSPEL brings conversion due to whom Jesus IS! The PROSPERITY GOSPEL brings conversion due to what a person can GET!
Read 1 Timothy 6:3-10 again slowly. Notice the TRUE focus of the passage…and how it deals with those who think “godliness is a means of gain.” If you have ANY doubt that this is referring to those who believe that FINANCIAL WEALTH is promised by God, look with me here:
The Greek word translated “a means of gain” is PERISMOS. PERISMOS means “a way or means of furnishing or procuring wealth” or “money getting” according to the Greek Dictionary of the New Testament. So, if we properly apply those words, we see that Paul is telling Timothy this: ANYONE who supposes that accepting Jesus (“godliness”) is “a way or means of furnishing or procuring wealth” or “a way or means of money-getting” is “ proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth...”
As we seek to reach the lost, we MUST be sure that the MESSAGE that the lost are hearing is the TRUTH. We must be SURE that people are coming to CHRIST...not TO Christ FOR or AS a FINANCIAL INVESTMENT!
We ARE saved by GRACE…but GRACE is just the “free gift” that allows us to ACCEPT truth!
Think of it this way: GRACE is the TICKET…TRUTH is the EVENT!
One last thing:
Notice this with me…GRACE is not truly even required to accept the PROSPERITY GOSPEL. It is not a “gospel” in the first place…and it is not a “gospel” that is based on SAVING a person FROM something: it is INSTEAD a “gospel” that is based on RECEIVING benefits from a “conversion”. Without Jesus Christ, we are LOST…and we are heading for hell. When we accept Jesus, we are SAVED FROM HELL..and we are saved from our sins. When we are saved, we recognize that we are SINFUL and that we need a SAVIOR. When a person accepts the PROSPERITY GOSPEL, they simply see and believe Jesus to be the way to FINANCIAL GAIN. Salvation FROM sin is not the primary issue…or it is often not even an issue at all! The primary focus of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL is NOT the need for a Savior: the primary focus of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL is the desire for financial gain!
The TRUE GOSPEL is based on the CHANGE in a MAN’S SOUL. The PROSPERITY GOSPEL is based on the BETTERMENT of a FINANCIAL POSITION.
With the TRUE GOSPEL…we gain forgiveness of sins and entrance into HEAVEN and eternity with Jesus. With the PROSPERITY GOSPEL, a person SUPPOSEDLY gains entrance into a HIGHER TAX BRACKET.
The TRUE GOSPEL is based on SEEKING JESUS. The PROSPERITY GOSPEL is based on SEEKING WEALTH.
We stand today with a choice: the choice to seek JESUS or the choice to seek FINANCIAL GAIN. It is our choice.
But remember: what we SEEK determines our DIRECTION.
We know this: seeking TRUTH…seeking JESUS…leads to ETERNAL LIFE.
I choose to seek TRUTH…and I will be CONTENT as the Lord provides the rest…in whatever portion that He deems necessary and best.
In Christ,
Ron
Monday, October 15, 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
Context Is Everything!
Technology in the Church has been both a blessing and a curse. I am not one who believes that technology is all bad…but I also realize that there has been one HUGE FLAW which has been brought on by technology…being an undetected HARM within the lives of believers and church-goers:
The PROJECTION of SCRIPTURE on the video screens of churches has led to an overwhelming lack of Bibles being used to reference passages of Scripture. Statistics show that Bibles are no longer even being brought to Church by most attendees…and, even though many churches provide Bibles in the pews…most people never open a Bible while in Church. This is due to the fact that they see no reason to do so…because the passage being quoted is now being projected onto the video screen.
That may seem to be “nitpicking”…but it is actually a SERIOUS issue!
I am sure you are asking “Why??”
When it comes to God’s Word…CONTEXT is everything!
Here is an example of what can happen when particular passages are used to teach a “doctrine”…and only certain passages are projected onto a screen…which allows the passages to be focused on ALONE…without being surrounded by their proper CONTEXT:
Let’s say the following Scripture is projected onto the screen…as the preacher quotes them:
Mark 10:29-30 (NKJV)
29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time…
Now, when this Scripture is dealt with ALONE…it seems to promise that EARTHLY BLESSINGS…specifically FINANCIAL BLESSINGS…are promised. And this is OFTEN how this passage is presented and taught!
But remember: CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING.
First…as with the passage in Mark…there are actually QUALIFIERS left out of the passage. Here is the passage in its entirety (with the QUALIFIERS):
Mark 10:29-31 (NKJV)
29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
Notice that Jesus first says that this refers to those who have left “house or brothers or sisters of father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s”. This is referring to those who have basically “given up everything” for the cause of Christ. We SELDOM…IF EVER…see ministers do this in any form or fashion today: that MUST be noted! Then…if, as some claim, this passage truly promises a “hundredfold blessing/promise”…that it would be promising…LITERALLY…100 “ houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands.”
Now…PROSPERITY PREACHERS love to use this Scripture to make a claim that God is promising FINANCIAL WEALTH…but what it would ACTUALLY promise if applied in their ERRONEOUS way is A HUGE FAMILY…with MULTIPLE WIVES and brothers and sisters and mothers (how can a man LITERALLY gain a hundred mothers?) and children and lands!
But…notice I have left out one CRUCIAL word which is ALSO included in the passage when I try to interpret the passage in the way most PROSPERITY PREACHERS interpret it: the word which is left out is “persecutions”!
Isn’t it odd that with all the “good” things mentioned…Mark would include “persecutions”? If we were to make application to the GOOD things “promised”…then we MUST also include the “persecutions” promised. And…if each were INDEED a “promise”…then for every 100 hundred houses…there would be 100 persecutions! But…I have NEVER heard a minister declare THAT “promise”!
This passage of Scripture is OFTEN “quoted” by preachers of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL…yet, in ALMOST EVERY CASE, the PROSPERITY PREACHER never bothers to include the part of the passage which says “persecutions”.
You see…CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING.
So…IN CONTEXT…what is this passage of Scripture truly teaching?
Let’s look at it by first getting an idea of CONTEXT…and how to DETERMINE that CONTEXT:
1. The first CONTEXT is…BIBLICAL. This is a passage in THE BIBLE.
2. The second CONTEXT is…NEW TESTAMENT.
3. The third CONTEXT is…THE BOOK OF MARK.
4. The fourth CONTEXT is…THE TENTH CHAPTER OF MARK.
5. The fifth CONTEXT is…JESUS IS SPEAKING.
6. The sixth CONTEXT is…JESUS IS SPEAKING TO THE DISCIPLES AND FOLLOWERS.
7. The seventh CONTEXT is…JESUS JUST TOLD THE RICH YOUNG RULER WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO SERVE HIM.
8. The eighth CONTEXT is…JESUS TELLS THEM THAT THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO GIVE UP WHAT THE RICH YOUNG RULER WAS NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP ARE THE TARGET AUDIENCE OF WHAT IS SPOKEN.
9. The ninth CONTEXT is…JESUS QUALIFIES THE EARTHLY BLESSINGS BY INCLUDING “PERSECUTIONS”…WHILE SIMPLE APPLICATION OF THE PASSAGE ACTUALLY RENDERS THE SUPERFICIAL INTERPRETATION (that God promises a “hundredfold financial blessing”) AS ERRONEOUS.
10. The tenth CONTEXT is…JESUS PROMISES AN ETERNAL (NOT AN EARTHLY) REWARD!
So…what is Jesus TRULY teaching in this passage? Is it a promise of EARTHLY wealth or is it a promise of EARTHLY companions and travels for the cause of Christ…all while experiencing PERSECUTION?
You see…when we measure this Scripture by applying its CONTEXT to the rest of God’s Word…we can then realize that Jesus was not promising principles of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL. Jesus was saying that those who would give up/leave EVERYTHING (again…note that VERY FEW ministers give up ANY of this today!) will, through their travels, encounter “brothers and sisters and mothers” who will support them in their ministry. These people will open up their homes and lands to those who travel and minister for the cause of Christ. So, although they have DENIED themselves the comforts of home and family, they will GAIN a multitude of homes and families…as those who receive the GOOD NEWS (the GOSPEL) are brought into the FAMILY OF GOD! In this sense of the word, the minister will then have “houses” and FAMILY in every town that he has visited. In THAT sense of the word…those who give up EVERYTHING for the cause of Christ will gain IN RETURN a following of believers who will help them as they go on their journey. BUT…it also promises that there will be PERSECUTION which is EQUAL to the support which is given to them! In other words…for every friend gained…there will be a trial and persecution which comes! Remember…BOTH are said to be “hundredfold”. So…it truly teaches that for every 100 SUPPORTERS…there will be an equal amount of PERSECUTIONS.
In actuality, this passage of Scripture shows us that SOME will give up EVERYTHING to follow and serve Jesus…and God will provide for them through the goodness of those that they minister to. But…although their needs will be supplied and although God will work through their ministry, there will still be trials and tribulations…and persecutions. Far from this passage being a foundation for the PROSPERITY GOSPEL…it is actually a revelation from Jesus that God will supply the needs of those who give up EVERYTHING to minister for HIM…and He will supply those needs through those who hear and believe the preaching of the ministers. And…persecution will ALWAYS accompany the minister in his travels.
So…let’s go back to my primary thought in all of this:
When Scripture is projected onto a screen…it is IMPOSSIBLE to show its TRUE and TOTAL context!
This has caused many to fail to obey the Word of God when it tells us:
1 John 4:1 (NKJV)
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
We are to CHECK…TEST…EXAMINE…what is being taught by going to the WORD OF GOD. In doing so, we are to study and understand what we hear IN ITS PROPER CONTEXT.
God’s Word is FULL of TRUTH. But TRUTH, when taken out of CONTEXT, can actually lead us into FALSE DOCTRINE!
In cases of FALSE DOCTRINE, you will discover that…in ALMOST EVERY INSTANCE…Scripture is taken out of its PROPER CONTEXT…causing it to be MISAPPLIED and MISREPRESENTED.
Be careful…and keep in mind the words of Paul unto Timothy…as Paul urged Timothy to protect his DOCTRINE:
1 Timothy 4:16 (NKJV)
16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
DOCTRINE is WHAT WE BELIEVE…and it must be based on THE WORD OF GOD…on SCRIPTURE in its PROPER CONTEXT.
I urge EVERY BELIEVER to keep their Bible handy…and to keep it busy and open! Apply God’s Word to what you hear. “Test the spirits…” and be sure of what you hear. Do not be deceived by Scripture which is taken OUT OF CONTEXT!
Context IS everything!
In Christ,
Ron
The PROJECTION of SCRIPTURE on the video screens of churches has led to an overwhelming lack of Bibles being used to reference passages of Scripture. Statistics show that Bibles are no longer even being brought to Church by most attendees…and, even though many churches provide Bibles in the pews…most people never open a Bible while in Church. This is due to the fact that they see no reason to do so…because the passage being quoted is now being projected onto the video screen.
That may seem to be “nitpicking”…but it is actually a SERIOUS issue!
I am sure you are asking “Why??”
When it comes to God’s Word…CONTEXT is everything!
Here is an example of what can happen when particular passages are used to teach a “doctrine”…and only certain passages are projected onto a screen…which allows the passages to be focused on ALONE…without being surrounded by their proper CONTEXT:
Let’s say the following Scripture is projected onto the screen…as the preacher quotes them:
Mark 10:29-30 (NKJV)
29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time…
Now, when this Scripture is dealt with ALONE…it seems to promise that EARTHLY BLESSINGS…specifically FINANCIAL BLESSINGS…are promised. And this is OFTEN how this passage is presented and taught!
But remember: CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING.
First…as with the passage in Mark…there are actually QUALIFIERS left out of the passage. Here is the passage in its entirety (with the QUALIFIERS):
Mark 10:29-31 (NKJV)
29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
Notice that Jesus first says that this refers to those who have left “house or brothers or sisters of father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s”. This is referring to those who have basically “given up everything” for the cause of Christ. We SELDOM…IF EVER…see ministers do this in any form or fashion today: that MUST be noted! Then…if, as some claim, this passage truly promises a “hundredfold blessing/promise”…that it would be promising…LITERALLY…100 “ houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands.”
Now…PROSPERITY PREACHERS love to use this Scripture to make a claim that God is promising FINANCIAL WEALTH…but what it would ACTUALLY promise if applied in their ERRONEOUS way is A HUGE FAMILY…with MULTIPLE WIVES and brothers and sisters and mothers (how can a man LITERALLY gain a hundred mothers?) and children and lands!
But…notice I have left out one CRUCIAL word which is ALSO included in the passage when I try to interpret the passage in the way most PROSPERITY PREACHERS interpret it: the word which is left out is “persecutions”!
Isn’t it odd that with all the “good” things mentioned…Mark would include “persecutions”? If we were to make application to the GOOD things “promised”…then we MUST also include the “persecutions” promised. And…if each were INDEED a “promise”…then for every 100 hundred houses…there would be 100 persecutions! But…I have NEVER heard a minister declare THAT “promise”!
This passage of Scripture is OFTEN “quoted” by preachers of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL…yet, in ALMOST EVERY CASE, the PROSPERITY PREACHER never bothers to include the part of the passage which says “persecutions”.
You see…CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING.
So…IN CONTEXT…what is this passage of Scripture truly teaching?
Let’s look at it by first getting an idea of CONTEXT…and how to DETERMINE that CONTEXT:
1. The first CONTEXT is…BIBLICAL. This is a passage in THE BIBLE.
2. The second CONTEXT is…NEW TESTAMENT.
3. The third CONTEXT is…THE BOOK OF MARK.
4. The fourth CONTEXT is…THE TENTH CHAPTER OF MARK.
5. The fifth CONTEXT is…JESUS IS SPEAKING.
6. The sixth CONTEXT is…JESUS IS SPEAKING TO THE DISCIPLES AND FOLLOWERS.
7. The seventh CONTEXT is…JESUS JUST TOLD THE RICH YOUNG RULER WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO SERVE HIM.
8. The eighth CONTEXT is…JESUS TELLS THEM THAT THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO GIVE UP WHAT THE RICH YOUNG RULER WAS NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP ARE THE TARGET AUDIENCE OF WHAT IS SPOKEN.
9. The ninth CONTEXT is…JESUS QUALIFIES THE EARTHLY BLESSINGS BY INCLUDING “PERSECUTIONS”…WHILE SIMPLE APPLICATION OF THE PASSAGE ACTUALLY RENDERS THE SUPERFICIAL INTERPRETATION (that God promises a “hundredfold financial blessing”) AS ERRONEOUS.
10. The tenth CONTEXT is…JESUS PROMISES AN ETERNAL (NOT AN EARTHLY) REWARD!
So…what is Jesus TRULY teaching in this passage? Is it a promise of EARTHLY wealth or is it a promise of EARTHLY companions and travels for the cause of Christ…all while experiencing PERSECUTION?
You see…when we measure this Scripture by applying its CONTEXT to the rest of God’s Word…we can then realize that Jesus was not promising principles of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL. Jesus was saying that those who would give up/leave EVERYTHING (again…note that VERY FEW ministers give up ANY of this today!) will, through their travels, encounter “brothers and sisters and mothers” who will support them in their ministry. These people will open up their homes and lands to those who travel and minister for the cause of Christ. So, although they have DENIED themselves the comforts of home and family, they will GAIN a multitude of homes and families…as those who receive the GOOD NEWS (the GOSPEL) are brought into the FAMILY OF GOD! In this sense of the word, the minister will then have “houses” and FAMILY in every town that he has visited. In THAT sense of the word…those who give up EVERYTHING for the cause of Christ will gain IN RETURN a following of believers who will help them as they go on their journey. BUT…it also promises that there will be PERSECUTION which is EQUAL to the support which is given to them! In other words…for every friend gained…there will be a trial and persecution which comes! Remember…BOTH are said to be “hundredfold”. So…it truly teaches that for every 100 SUPPORTERS…there will be an equal amount of PERSECUTIONS.
In actuality, this passage of Scripture shows us that SOME will give up EVERYTHING to follow and serve Jesus…and God will provide for them through the goodness of those that they minister to. But…although their needs will be supplied and although God will work through their ministry, there will still be trials and tribulations…and persecutions. Far from this passage being a foundation for the PROSPERITY GOSPEL…it is actually a revelation from Jesus that God will supply the needs of those who give up EVERYTHING to minister for HIM…and He will supply those needs through those who hear and believe the preaching of the ministers. And…persecution will ALWAYS accompany the minister in his travels.
So…let’s go back to my primary thought in all of this:
When Scripture is projected onto a screen…it is IMPOSSIBLE to show its TRUE and TOTAL context!
This has caused many to fail to obey the Word of God when it tells us:
1 John 4:1 (NKJV)
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
We are to CHECK…TEST…EXAMINE…what is being taught by going to the WORD OF GOD. In doing so, we are to study and understand what we hear IN ITS PROPER CONTEXT.
God’s Word is FULL of TRUTH. But TRUTH, when taken out of CONTEXT, can actually lead us into FALSE DOCTRINE!
In cases of FALSE DOCTRINE, you will discover that…in ALMOST EVERY INSTANCE…Scripture is taken out of its PROPER CONTEXT…causing it to be MISAPPLIED and MISREPRESENTED.
Be careful…and keep in mind the words of Paul unto Timothy…as Paul urged Timothy to protect his DOCTRINE:
1 Timothy 4:16 (NKJV)
16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
DOCTRINE is WHAT WE BELIEVE…and it must be based on THE WORD OF GOD…on SCRIPTURE in its PROPER CONTEXT.
I urge EVERY BELIEVER to keep their Bible handy…and to keep it busy and open! Apply God’s Word to what you hear. “Test the spirits…” and be sure of what you hear. Do not be deceived by Scripture which is taken OUT OF CONTEXT!
Context IS everything!
In Christ,
Ron
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Friends With False Doctrine: When Relationships Hide Truth
What happens if our bond to family and friends is STRONGER than our bond to TRUTH? According to John 14:6, Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Our love for Jesus must be founded in our love for His Word…in the existence of Jesus as TRUTH. It is often due to our RELATIONSHIPS that we allow doctrinal error to enter into our lives.
A dangerous tendency in Christianity and the Church today is for people to ignore false doctrine. In many cases, people are ignoring false doctrine because of THE PERSON TEACHING IT. Too many people will simply OVERLOOK false doctrine if it is being spoken by one of their favorite preachers! But, let me be clear: False doctrine is not to be judged based on WHO is teaching it…it is to be judged by WHAT is being taught!
Today, MANY ministers are "slipping" into false doctrine. Those staying true to God's Word and the TRUE DOCTRINES of the Bible seem to be in the minority today. And...many ministers who USED TO BE grounded in the Word of God have now begun to include erroneous and dangerous doctrines along with some truth. It has caused many to be DECEIVED. As those who once stood for truth now have been turned to FABLES and FALSE DOCTRINE, their followers have been left confused. Many go on to simply BELIEVE the false teachings because they cannot bring themselves to believe that their favorite minister has entered into error.
We are to stand for truth...and we are to renounce and rebuke false doctrine. Notice how Peter addressed the issue:
2 Peter 2 (NKJV)
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)-- 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."
Peter KNEW that he MUST speak out against false doctrine and against those that would teach it. Peter’s words are strong and clear: and I am sure that his words were OFFENSIVE to the false teachers. We MUST NOT allow our RELATIONSHIPS to take precedence over TRUTH. If my own family and friends begin to preach doctrines which are NOT Biblical truths, then God’s Word tells me that I must not hesitate to speak out against the false teachings they are espousing. Our loyalty is to be to Jesus Christ and the Word of God FIRST! Because it will mean NOTHING if we keep family and friends...all at the expense of TRUTH.
If we choose family and friends over TRUTH...then what will it profit us? Remember: Mark 8:36 (NKJV) "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"
Therefore...the Word of God…JESUS…TRUTH…must be my EVERYTHING!
In Christ,
Ron
A dangerous tendency in Christianity and the Church today is for people to ignore false doctrine. In many cases, people are ignoring false doctrine because of THE PERSON TEACHING IT. Too many people will simply OVERLOOK false doctrine if it is being spoken by one of their favorite preachers! But, let me be clear: False doctrine is not to be judged based on WHO is teaching it…it is to be judged by WHAT is being taught!
Today, MANY ministers are "slipping" into false doctrine. Those staying true to God's Word and the TRUE DOCTRINES of the Bible seem to be in the minority today. And...many ministers who USED TO BE grounded in the Word of God have now begun to include erroneous and dangerous doctrines along with some truth. It has caused many to be DECEIVED. As those who once stood for truth now have been turned to FABLES and FALSE DOCTRINE, their followers have been left confused. Many go on to simply BELIEVE the false teachings because they cannot bring themselves to believe that their favorite minister has entered into error.
We are to stand for truth...and we are to renounce and rebuke false doctrine. Notice how Peter addressed the issue:
2 Peter 2 (NKJV)
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)-- 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."
Peter KNEW that he MUST speak out against false doctrine and against those that would teach it. Peter’s words are strong and clear: and I am sure that his words were OFFENSIVE to the false teachers. We MUST NOT allow our RELATIONSHIPS to take precedence over TRUTH. If my own family and friends begin to preach doctrines which are NOT Biblical truths, then God’s Word tells me that I must not hesitate to speak out against the false teachings they are espousing. Our loyalty is to be to Jesus Christ and the Word of God FIRST! Because it will mean NOTHING if we keep family and friends...all at the expense of TRUTH.
If we choose family and friends over TRUTH...then what will it profit us? Remember: Mark 8:36 (NKJV) "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"
Therefore...the Word of God…JESUS…TRUTH…must be my EVERYTHING!
In Christ,
Ron
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Parasitic Doctrines: The Hidden Destruction of False Teachings
Jesus appears to John on the Isle of Patmos…telling John to “write”. Jesus then speaks to 7 Churches…and Jesus would have words of warning for those who have allowed FALSE TEACHING to enter into the Body of Christ!
Revelation 2:14-16 (NKJV)
14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
- Jesus is speaking to the Church of Pergamos. He tells them that they have accepted doctrines from other sources…sources other than His Word and His teachings…namely the doctrines of Balaam and also doctrines of the Nicolaitans. (See other passages from Revelation 2 & 3 which are quoted and referenced at the end of this article.)
Jesus warns the Church that PARASITES have entered the BODY!
A PARASITE is (according to Merriam-Webster):
1. An organism living in, with, or on another organism
2. Something that resembles a biological parasite in dependence on something else for existence or support without making a useful or adequate return
3. A person who exploits the hospitality of the rich and earns welcome by flattery
Synonyms for PARASITE are:
1. Sycophant - A servile self-seeking flatterer
2. Toady - One who flatters in the hope of gaining favors
3. Leech - A hanger-on who seeks advantage or gain
4. Sponge - One who lives on others
Parasites act in specialized ways. They can live OUTSIDE of the host (ECTOPARASITES) or they can live INSIDE of the host (ENDOPARASITES). I will not delve into the FULL evaluation of PARASITES…which actually goes much deeper.
Suffice it to say…PARASITES live off of the HOST. And, in doing so, the health and vitality of the HOST is affected in ADVERSE ways….ranging from MILD changes in health and vitality to actual DEATH.
Many fail to see the PARASITIC aspects of FALSE DOCTRINE…yet it is wreaking havoc in their bodies and in their lives!
NOTICE THIS:
Parasites do not PREVENT a person from eating HEALTHY food…but a PARASITE robs the body of the necessary NUTRIENTS!
FALSE DOCTRINE works the same way!
Although FALSE DOCTRINE is taught side-by-side with TRUTH (attached to it like a PARASITE)…the introduction of the PARASITIC false doctrine into a person’s system actually allows the “fruit” of the TRUTH to be USURPED or STOLEN by the PARASITE!
When FALSE DOCTRINE is INCLUDED in teachings/sermons…the FALSE DOCTRINE can actually DESTROY the effects of TRUTH…causing the TRUTH TO BE INEFFECTIVE!
Paul once wrote “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” (1 Corinthians 1:17 - NKJV)
We CAN “add to” the TRUTH…by allowing “man’s wisdom” (false doctrine) to make the TRUTH “of no effect.”
2 Peter 2:1-3 (NKJV)
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
A PARASITE is introduced SECRETLY into the HOST…just as FALSE DOCTRINE is introduced SECRETLY into the CHURCH.
In what we now call “Third World Countries”, we find that PARASITES are frequent causes of sickness and disease: Malaria, River Blindness (Onchocerciasis), Sleeping sickness (human African trypanosomiasis), Elephantiasis, Lyme Disease…the list can go on and on.
In most cases…these diseases are caused by UNSANITARY CONDITIONS….or CONTAMINATION.
Pure, clean water can become CONTAMINATED…and, once CONTAMINATED, the water is then in an UNSANITARY CONDITION.
NOTICE THIS:
When something PURE (truth) becomes CONTAMINATED (mixed with false doctrine)…the PARASITE can gain entrance into the HOST.
Beware of drinking from contaminated wells: parasites thrive in the midst of contamination!
Then…NOTICE THIS:
The PARASITE comes in to STEAL the life from the HOST!
John 10:10 (NKJV)
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Just as with a PARASITE…FALSE DOCTRINE is introduced secretly…and its purpose is DESTRUCTION. Yet…we most often think of this as a PHYSICAL and/or SPIRITUAL death…which it is. But…in the realm of FALSE DOCTRINE…the purpose of the false doctrine is to “steal, kill, and to destroy” the TRUTH!
We too often view FALSE DOCTRINE by evaluating its effects on its FOLLOWERS…and we WRONGLY deduce “it must be correct doctrine” when we see no visible “effects”…often basing our evaluation on the health or financial status of the FOLLOWER. We measure SUCCESS by the wrong standards in such cases in the first place! Our WALK WITH GOD cannot…CANNOT…be measured by our financial wealth!
The TRUE evaluation of FALSE DOCTRINE, then, is NOT in some visible status of the FOLLOWER of that FALSE DOCTRINE…but that evaluation MUST BE how it measures up to the Word of God. And…from that…we can see that the TRUE danger of FALSE DOCTRINE is in its power to USURP and WEAKEN the power of TRUTH in a person’s life!
Just as a PARASITE can rob the body of nutrients which come from the food we have ingested…so TOO can FALSE DOCTRINE rob the Body of Christ of nutrients which SHOULD come from the TRUTH which we have ingested!
So…we see that not only is FALSE DOCTRINE a PARASITE which is introduced through CONTAMINATED TEACHING…but it continues to rob the TRUTH of its nutrients which are for the purpose of strengthening our bodies!
Sadly…rarely is the HOST (the follower of false teachers who preach false doctrines/false teachings) aware of the presence of the PARASITE! Thus…the PARASITE does its work SECRETLY…slowly destroying the body until it is in such a weakened state that the SLIGHTEST attack can no longer be withstood!
In most cases…much like AIDS…the death of the HOST is due to SOME OTHER attack of the body…it is usually NOT due to the PARASITE ITSELF!
The PARASITE simply weakens the body…and the body becomes so weak that it can no longer fight off any attacks!
The Church needs to return to PURITY again…TRUTH!
When our SOURCE for WISDOM and DISCERNMENT is from a PURE source…the Word of God ALONE…absent of any and all FALSE DOCTRINE…then the TRUTH will once again be strong and effective in the lives of those who hear it!
DO NOT allow the TRUTH to CONTAMINATED with the PARASITE of FALSE DOCTRINE!
In Christ,
Ron
(Scripture References)
Revelation 2:20-25 (NKJV)
20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. 24 Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast what you have till I come.
- Jesus is speaking to the Church of Thyatira. He tells them that they have allowed Jezebel to teach in their midst. She uses her teachings to “seduce” the flock.
Revelation 3:1-4 (NKJV)
1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
- Jesus is speaking to the Church of Sardis. Jesus tells them that they may possess a name which says they are “alive” (they are known in the community as a vibrant church), but they are in fact almost completely dead. What IS left alive MUST BE strengthened! And…Jesus tells them that their “near-death” existence has so weakened them that they can barely stay awake. If they fail to “wake up”…they are in danger of being “left behind”!
Revelation 3:15-20 (NKJV)
15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
- Jess is speaking to the Church of Laodicea. Jesus says that they consider themselves to be Christians, yet they are simply “Christian” in name only. What they BELIEVE about themselves is actually nothing more than a DECEPTION. The reality of their existence is the OPPOSITE of what they believe! They have chosen to depend on EARTHLY WEALTH…falsely believing that their earthly existence…the life of luxury…is a sign of God’s hand of blessing on them. Yet…it is NOT! While living in wealth and riches…they have forgotten their need for JESUS! Their dependence is in THEMSELVES…and they have left their dependence on GOD. They are SELF-SUFFICIENT…and no longer GOD-SUFFICIENT!
Revelation 2:14-16 (NKJV)
14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
- Jesus is speaking to the Church of Pergamos. He tells them that they have accepted doctrines from other sources…sources other than His Word and His teachings…namely the doctrines of Balaam and also doctrines of the Nicolaitans. (See other passages from Revelation 2 & 3 which are quoted and referenced at the end of this article.)
Jesus warns the Church that PARASITES have entered the BODY!
A PARASITE is (according to Merriam-Webster):
1. An organism living in, with, or on another organism
2. Something that resembles a biological parasite in dependence on something else for existence or support without making a useful or adequate return
3. A person who exploits the hospitality of the rich and earns welcome by flattery
Synonyms for PARASITE are:
1. Sycophant - A servile self-seeking flatterer
2. Toady - One who flatters in the hope of gaining favors
3. Leech - A hanger-on who seeks advantage or gain
4. Sponge - One who lives on others
Parasites act in specialized ways. They can live OUTSIDE of the host (ECTOPARASITES) or they can live INSIDE of the host (ENDOPARASITES). I will not delve into the FULL evaluation of PARASITES…which actually goes much deeper.
Suffice it to say…PARASITES live off of the HOST. And, in doing so, the health and vitality of the HOST is affected in ADVERSE ways….ranging from MILD changes in health and vitality to actual DEATH.
Many fail to see the PARASITIC aspects of FALSE DOCTRINE…yet it is wreaking havoc in their bodies and in their lives!
NOTICE THIS:
Parasites do not PREVENT a person from eating HEALTHY food…but a PARASITE robs the body of the necessary NUTRIENTS!
FALSE DOCTRINE works the same way!
Although FALSE DOCTRINE is taught side-by-side with TRUTH (attached to it like a PARASITE)…the introduction of the PARASITIC false doctrine into a person’s system actually allows the “fruit” of the TRUTH to be USURPED or STOLEN by the PARASITE!
When FALSE DOCTRINE is INCLUDED in teachings/sermons…the FALSE DOCTRINE can actually DESTROY the effects of TRUTH…causing the TRUTH TO BE INEFFECTIVE!
Paul once wrote “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” (1 Corinthians 1:17 - NKJV)
We CAN “add to” the TRUTH…by allowing “man’s wisdom” (false doctrine) to make the TRUTH “of no effect.”
2 Peter 2:1-3 (NKJV)
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
A PARASITE is introduced SECRETLY into the HOST…just as FALSE DOCTRINE is introduced SECRETLY into the CHURCH.
In what we now call “Third World Countries”, we find that PARASITES are frequent causes of sickness and disease: Malaria, River Blindness (Onchocerciasis), Sleeping sickness (human African trypanosomiasis), Elephantiasis, Lyme Disease…the list can go on and on.
In most cases…these diseases are caused by UNSANITARY CONDITIONS….or CONTAMINATION.
Pure, clean water can become CONTAMINATED…and, once CONTAMINATED, the water is then in an UNSANITARY CONDITION.
NOTICE THIS:
When something PURE (truth) becomes CONTAMINATED (mixed with false doctrine)…the PARASITE can gain entrance into the HOST.
Beware of drinking from contaminated wells: parasites thrive in the midst of contamination!
Then…NOTICE THIS:
The PARASITE comes in to STEAL the life from the HOST!
John 10:10 (NKJV)
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Just as with a PARASITE…FALSE DOCTRINE is introduced secretly…and its purpose is DESTRUCTION. Yet…we most often think of this as a PHYSICAL and/or SPIRITUAL death…which it is. But…in the realm of FALSE DOCTRINE…the purpose of the false doctrine is to “steal, kill, and to destroy” the TRUTH!
We too often view FALSE DOCTRINE by evaluating its effects on its FOLLOWERS…and we WRONGLY deduce “it must be correct doctrine” when we see no visible “effects”…often basing our evaluation on the health or financial status of the FOLLOWER. We measure SUCCESS by the wrong standards in such cases in the first place! Our WALK WITH GOD cannot…CANNOT…be measured by our financial wealth!
The TRUE evaluation of FALSE DOCTRINE, then, is NOT in some visible status of the FOLLOWER of that FALSE DOCTRINE…but that evaluation MUST BE how it measures up to the Word of God. And…from that…we can see that the TRUE danger of FALSE DOCTRINE is in its power to USURP and WEAKEN the power of TRUTH in a person’s life!
Just as a PARASITE can rob the body of nutrients which come from the food we have ingested…so TOO can FALSE DOCTRINE rob the Body of Christ of nutrients which SHOULD come from the TRUTH which we have ingested!
So…we see that not only is FALSE DOCTRINE a PARASITE which is introduced through CONTAMINATED TEACHING…but it continues to rob the TRUTH of its nutrients which are for the purpose of strengthening our bodies!
Sadly…rarely is the HOST (the follower of false teachers who preach false doctrines/false teachings) aware of the presence of the PARASITE! Thus…the PARASITE does its work SECRETLY…slowly destroying the body until it is in such a weakened state that the SLIGHTEST attack can no longer be withstood!
In most cases…much like AIDS…the death of the HOST is due to SOME OTHER attack of the body…it is usually NOT due to the PARASITE ITSELF!
The PARASITE simply weakens the body…and the body becomes so weak that it can no longer fight off any attacks!
The Church needs to return to PURITY again…TRUTH!
When our SOURCE for WISDOM and DISCERNMENT is from a PURE source…the Word of God ALONE…absent of any and all FALSE DOCTRINE…then the TRUTH will once again be strong and effective in the lives of those who hear it!
DO NOT allow the TRUTH to CONTAMINATED with the PARASITE of FALSE DOCTRINE!
In Christ,
Ron
(Scripture References)
Revelation 2:20-25 (NKJV)
20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. 24 Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast what you have till I come.
- Jesus is speaking to the Church of Thyatira. He tells them that they have allowed Jezebel to teach in their midst. She uses her teachings to “seduce” the flock.
Revelation 3:1-4 (NKJV)
1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
- Jesus is speaking to the Church of Sardis. Jesus tells them that they may possess a name which says they are “alive” (they are known in the community as a vibrant church), but they are in fact almost completely dead. What IS left alive MUST BE strengthened! And…Jesus tells them that their “near-death” existence has so weakened them that they can barely stay awake. If they fail to “wake up”…they are in danger of being “left behind”!
Revelation 3:15-20 (NKJV)
15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
- Jess is speaking to the Church of Laodicea. Jesus says that they consider themselves to be Christians, yet they are simply “Christian” in name only. What they BELIEVE about themselves is actually nothing more than a DECEPTION. The reality of their existence is the OPPOSITE of what they believe! They have chosen to depend on EARTHLY WEALTH…falsely believing that their earthly existence…the life of luxury…is a sign of God’s hand of blessing on them. Yet…it is NOT! While living in wealth and riches…they have forgotten their need for JESUS! Their dependence is in THEMSELVES…and they have left their dependence on GOD. They are SELF-SUFFICIENT…and no longer GOD-SUFFICIENT!
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Perry Stone's "The Meal That Heals": The Teaching That STEALS
Here is a quote from this video...and it is NOT Biblical truth.
"We also talk about, in this book, how that through receiving daily communion it is possible for a person to receive the 3 fold atoning work that Jesus did on the cross." Perry then states this "3 fold" work includes "physical healing for the body, the healing of course of the human spirit...the removing of sin and the iniquity that is in a person's life, but also the healing of the emotions and the soul and the mind."
Now, the key here is what Perry says THE WAY to receive this so-called "3 fold atoning work"...to include the "removing of sin and the iniquity that is in a person's life".
Perry SPECIFICALLY says this is received "through taking daily communion"...furthering that FALSE DOCTRINE by continuing to say by doing this daily RITUAL that "it is possible for a person to receive...physical healing for the body" and salvation (the actual word which denotes ANY "removing of sin and iniquity" in the life of a person) and "the healing of the emotions and the soul and the mind."
Stand back from your screen and listen:
THIS IS ALL A LIE AND IT IS FALSE DOCTRINE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Excuse me, folks, but if you do not get this important truth of Scripture then you understand NOTHING about Jesus...nor the Word of God!
Salvation is NOT received “through receiving daily communion”!
We are “saved” when we place our trust in Jesus Christ (when we BELIEVE that He is the Son of God, equal with God…that He came to earth as a baby in a manger, the supernatural birth coming through Mary, that He lived a sinless life on earth, that He died for our sins on a cross, and that He rose again on the third day)…and we subsequently CONFESS our sins to Jesus (the Bible says that He is “faithful and just to forgive us our sins”), we ask Jesus for FORGIVENESS of our sins, and we then REPENT of those sins (repent means “to turn away from…to actually turn around and walk in the opposite direction).
This SALVATION is by GRACE through FAITH…not by any WORKS…”lest any man should boast.”
The path to SALVATION is GRACE…not “daily communion”!
Everything quoted above which is spoken by Perry is PERRY STONE’S OWN WORDS! You can listen to them for yourself! I have quoted them VERBATIM. I have NOT twisted his words in ANY WAY!
And…these words by Perry Stone himself are HERETICAL FALSE DOCTRINE! And…Perry speaks these words about a book that is supposed to be “unique for several reasons” (the very words of Perry). This book is INDEED unique:
It is “unique” because it claims to teach truth which comes from the revelation of God’s Word…yet the words of Perry Stone have NO BASIS within the truth of GOD’S WORD!
One quick BIBLICAL explanation of the idea of “breaking bread”:
Jesus said to “do this in remembrance of Me.” Jesus NEVER taught “Do this to receive salvation or physical healing or emotional healing.” Jesus simply said WHEN you do it…remember the suffering that he endured for YOU! His cry was much like our cry on the anniversary of September 11, 2001...”NEVER FORGET!”
Yes…”breaking bread” has a reference to what we called COMMUNION…but this was done simply by EATING MEALS…as denoted in Acts 2:46-47 “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
Jesus and the Disciples were eating what we denote as “The Last Supper” together. Notice: they were just having a dinner together…yet it was the PASSOVER MEAL. The PASSOVER MEAL is done as a REMEMBRANCE…when the DEATH ANGEL “passed over” the houses of those who had applied the BLOOD above the doorpost!
Jesus used this PASSOVER MEAL to tell them to REMEMBER. It was a foreshadowing of His coming death….that His body would be broken…that His blood would be spilled out.
The call was “REMEMBER”: the call WAS NOT “Do this to receive physical healing, emotional healing and…"...least of all…"salvation!"
Taking communion DAILY does NOT equate to some promise of God of physical/emotional healing…and it NEVER equates to SALVATION!
PLEASE do not be DECEIVED by such false doctrine as spoken here by Perry Stone!
Let me clarify and summarize:
We are to take COMMUNION as BELIEVERS…after we are saved. We do this to REMEMBER what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross: He was wounded, bruised, broken, beaten, rejected…and He shed His blood for you and for me so that we could gain ETERNAL LIFE through the GRACE of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Amen!
Here is the link to a video commercial done by Perry Stone regarding "The Meal That Heals": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muXWSKDQmXY&playnext=1&list=PLAD4FAFFB4FAAA527&feature=results_video
"We also talk about, in this book, how that through receiving daily communion it is possible for a person to receive the 3 fold atoning work that Jesus did on the cross." Perry then states this "3 fold" work includes "physical healing for the body, the healing of course of the human spirit...the removing of sin and the iniquity that is in a person's life, but also the healing of the emotions and the soul and the mind."
Now, the key here is what Perry says THE WAY to receive this so-called "3 fold atoning work"...to include the "removing of sin and the iniquity that is in a person's life".
Perry SPECIFICALLY says this is received "through taking daily communion"...furthering that FALSE DOCTRINE by continuing to say by doing this daily RITUAL that "it is possible for a person to receive...physical healing for the body" and salvation (the actual word which denotes ANY "removing of sin and iniquity" in the life of a person) and "the healing of the emotions and the soul and the mind."
Stand back from your screen and listen:
THIS IS ALL A LIE AND IT IS FALSE DOCTRINE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Excuse me, folks, but if you do not get this important truth of Scripture then you understand NOTHING about Jesus...nor the Word of God!
Salvation is NOT received “through receiving daily communion”!
We are “saved” when we place our trust in Jesus Christ (when we BELIEVE that He is the Son of God, equal with God…that He came to earth as a baby in a manger, the supernatural birth coming through Mary, that He lived a sinless life on earth, that He died for our sins on a cross, and that He rose again on the third day)…and we subsequently CONFESS our sins to Jesus (the Bible says that He is “faithful and just to forgive us our sins”), we ask Jesus for FORGIVENESS of our sins, and we then REPENT of those sins (repent means “to turn away from…to actually turn around and walk in the opposite direction).
This SALVATION is by GRACE through FAITH…not by any WORKS…”lest any man should boast.”
The path to SALVATION is GRACE…not “daily communion”!
Everything quoted above which is spoken by Perry is PERRY STONE’S OWN WORDS! You can listen to them for yourself! I have quoted them VERBATIM. I have NOT twisted his words in ANY WAY!
And…these words by Perry Stone himself are HERETICAL FALSE DOCTRINE! And…Perry speaks these words about a book that is supposed to be “unique for several reasons” (the very words of Perry). This book is INDEED unique:
It is “unique” because it claims to teach truth which comes from the revelation of God’s Word…yet the words of Perry Stone have NO BASIS within the truth of GOD’S WORD!
One quick BIBLICAL explanation of the idea of “breaking bread”:
Jesus said to “do this in remembrance of Me.” Jesus NEVER taught “Do this to receive salvation or physical healing or emotional healing.” Jesus simply said WHEN you do it…remember the suffering that he endured for YOU! His cry was much like our cry on the anniversary of September 11, 2001...”NEVER FORGET!”
Yes…”breaking bread” has a reference to what we called COMMUNION…but this was done simply by EATING MEALS…as denoted in Acts 2:46-47 “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
Jesus and the Disciples were eating what we denote as “The Last Supper” together. Notice: they were just having a dinner together…yet it was the PASSOVER MEAL. The PASSOVER MEAL is done as a REMEMBRANCE…when the DEATH ANGEL “passed over” the houses of those who had applied the BLOOD above the doorpost!
Jesus used this PASSOVER MEAL to tell them to REMEMBER. It was a foreshadowing of His coming death….that His body would be broken…that His blood would be spilled out.
The call was “REMEMBER”: the call WAS NOT “Do this to receive physical healing, emotional healing and…"...least of all…"salvation!"
Taking communion DAILY does NOT equate to some promise of God of physical/emotional healing…and it NEVER equates to SALVATION!
PLEASE do not be DECEIVED by such false doctrine as spoken here by Perry Stone!
Let me clarify and summarize:
We are to take COMMUNION as BELIEVERS…after we are saved. We do this to REMEMBER what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross: He was wounded, bruised, broken, beaten, rejected…and He shed His blood for you and for me so that we could gain ETERNAL LIFE through the GRACE of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Amen!
Here is the link to a video commercial done by Perry Stone regarding "The Meal That Heals": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muXWSKDQmXY&playnext=1&list=PLAD4FAFFB4FAAA527&feature=results_video
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
A Heavy Burden: A Call for Prayer and Discernment
I can honestly say that I have NEVER felt a burden as strong as I feel it today (specifically speaking of this very day…Wednesday, October 3, 2012) over the state of the church AND the state of this nation. Today it is HONESTLY almost overwhelming. It is as if I feel the Spirit of the Lord GRIEVING over our NATION and the CHURCH.
I have seldom asked for anything from my FB friends…but, today, I ask you for your prayers: for me, for our nation, for the church.
Just this past week, I received two calls from two different people…both asking me “What is God speaking to you about what He wants you to do in ministry?” I answered both honestly, telling them “I am not sure. I just know that He is telling me that He has prepared me for many years for whatever it is. I have been anything but perfect in my life…but I am SURE that God has forgiven me of ALL my past sins and failures. All I know is this: God started me out at the age of 18, sending me to PTL. There, God allowed me to see things that would be SIGNIFICANT to my calling later in life. And, over the past 30 years, he has been preparing me for something…something that I know is soon to be revealed in me.”
Today, I wrote these words to a friend who had emailed me to simply say “Ron, I am praying for you” as she…through discernment…mentioned the “burden” that she knew I must be under:
“I can use all the prayer someone will give. I am getting a lot of flack. People wonder why false doctrine has to be dealt with, etc. Just now…I felt God give me a great rebuttal. False doctrine is harmful...a poison. It works undetected...and that causes people to be blinded to its effects. Truth is like the antidote to false doctrine. Medical attention is needed if we are poisoned...and TRUTH...God's Word...is the only cure for false doctrine. To leave false doctrine alone to do its destructive work equates to leaving a person who is poisoned without medical care. I TRULY feel God saying this is the great apostasy of the church today. Why? False doctrine has been put on a level of EQUALITY with TRUTH! The Word of God has no equal! Jesus has no equal! God stands ALONE as the Pinnacle of all the universe! False doctrine DEMOTES God...in His very EXISTENCE and in His AUTHORITY! What is being done in the name of "Christianity" is simply the act of removing God from His throne.”
Today…I have sat and wept…repeatedly…with this very burden. I am SURE I am not the only one. I know that a man by the name of Eddie A Watson and his wife Carolyn are ALSO feeling this very burden. I do not know either of them personally…we met here through FB…but I know that they care so deeply for the lost…and for the church…and for this nation. And I know that they share with me the concern for what they are seeing in the church today. I am sure that God has been speaking to many other friends…Brian Keith is just one of those that I know personally. Brian became a PTL Singer after my tenure…and Brian and I have spoken recently regarding these same burdens.
All I am sure of is this: time is short. People are dying without Jesus every day. Less than 20% of people in any given city/town/community are actually even going to a church of any kind. There are FEW opportunities available for the Church to actually speak into the lives of these people…and ANY opportunity to do so CANNOT be poisoned by ANY inclusion of FALSE DOCTRINE!
The Bible tells us in John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
FALSE DOCTRINE can NEVER make people free! FALSE DOCTRINE can ONLY bring further BONDAGE!
The WORLD needs the TRUTH again…because the WORLD needs FREEDOM!
The CHURCH needs TRUTH again…because FALSE DOCTRINE is SILENCING the only thing that can bring sight to the blind…and freedom to the captives! THE TRUTH HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE PEOPLE FREE FROM SIN! It is that revelation of TRUTH which allows the BLIND to see. No one seeks freedom without first recognizing that they are a captive bound in chains!
Please…pray WITH me…pray FOR me. I am no more…or no less…broken than any other man: fallible, imperfect, in need of a Savior, in need of a Lord. But I am a man who is TRULY seeking the face…and heart…of God.
And please…pray for ministers and ministries…pray for the Church…pray for those so caught up in foolish and worldly FALSE DOCTRINES. The deception is great…and men and women of God are SELLING OUT to the easier, more profitable “gospels” of earthly wealth and comfort.
But God is asking:
“Where are the men of God who will stand in the face of adversity? Where are the men of God who will stand in the face of persecution? Where are the men of God who will speak TRUTH in the face of FALSE DOCTRINE? Where are the men of God who will speak MY WORDS and forsake THEIR OWN WORDS? Where are the men of God who will preach OBEDIENCE TO MY WORD? Where are the men of God who will be willing to give EVERYTHING for the cause of Jesus, My Son?”
Too many ministers and “Christians” today want God to give THEM everything…instead of wanting to give GOD everything!
Remember:
Matthew 16:21-26 (NKJV)
“From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
The time is SOON coming when serving Jesus Christ may cost us ALL…EVERYTHING!
And I TRULY believe that God is saying that those who have been DECEIVED by FALSE DOCTRINE will NOT be able to stand when these troubling times come! Those who have “bought in” to the “gospels” of earthly wealth and earthly comfort equate to those who have built their house on the sand…and according to God’s Word:
Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV)
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
But the KEY to understanding this passage of Scripture is this:
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
PLEASE…take note of this TRUTH:
When Jesus was speaking about building the house on the sand…verses 26-27...He was speaking of those who built their house on FALSE DOCTRINE! READ IT FOR YOURSELF!
In verses 13-23, Jesus has just spoken about those who preach/teach false doctrine…as He spoke “Beware of false prophets…” Jesus transitions from the recognition of FALSE PROPHETS into the danger of building your HOUSE (your life and beliefs) on the false teachings which COME from those FALSE PROPHETS!
And…too often…many FALSELY believe that “fruit” in some way refers to “followers” or claims of “This doctrine works!“ attributed to these ministers/ministries. In fact. “fruit” is referring to the MESSAGE which is being preached from the pulpits of these ministries…not some abstract measure of “blessings“ attributed to following the “principles“ taught by the false prophet!
The Greek word for FRUIT is KARPOS. Its literal translation is “from the base of”. Here is its true meaning:
An apple tree bears apples.
A pear tree bears pears.
A fig tree bears figs.
A pecan tree bears pecans.
A TRUE PROPHET bears TRUTH.
A FALSE PROPHET bears FALSE DOCTRINE.
An apple tree is not just an apple tree at the distinct point of the apple…it is an apple tree "from the base of" the tree: at its ROOTS! It is our FOUNDATION…whether we stand on the TRUTH of the ROCK or on the LIE of the SAND…which determines our position of safety and security...which resides in TRUTH. So do not be fooled by those who come with apples in hand as they cry, "Our ministry is for real! See the fruit!" They may hold an apple...but that apple is not a sign of "God's favor" on their ministry. In most cases, God ministers to people IN SPITE of the FALSE TEACHER'S ministry...not BECAUSE of it!
Therefore, a huge following CANNOT be the measure of a ministry! Some of the largest ministries and religions that have ever existed have been built upon FALSE DOCTRINE! Throughout the world, there are more MUSLIMS, HINDUS, etc. than there are CHRISTIANS…but the number of people FOLLOWING a religion is not a measure of the TRUTH of that religion!
Does the ministry of Jim Jones ring a bell with anyone….those old enough to remember…or those who have heard the story? Jim Jones started as a Pentecostal preacher. He had a mainstream ministry. Jones would become friends with dignitaries…both domestic and foreign. He rubbed shoulders with prominent politicians. Jones gained a large following.
But…Jones soon entered into FALSE DOCTRINE. In time, Jones’ ministry was steeped in controversy and investigation. To make a long story short…Jones would move his entire operation/ministry to Jonestown, Guyana. In time, Congressman Jim Ryan would arrive with a delegation to investigate a report of “civil rights violations” in the compound. The next day…November 18, 1978...Congressman Ryan and 4 others were attacked and murdered as they tried to board a plane to return to the United States. The attack was caught on camera by an NBC cameraman…and it was shown world-wide on TV. By the end of the day, 909 people would be dead…including Jim Jones…as a result of a cyanide-spiked Kool-Aid type drink mix. It was labeled a “mass suicide”…yet it appears that many were forced to drink the deadly mix…specifically the children. 303 of those who died that day were just young children! Not only did FALSE DOCTRINE lead to the deaths of those who so willingly and deceptively had been led down that path of ERROR…but innocent children died as a result! FALSE DOCTRINE doesn’t just wield its destruction on those who WILLINGLY follow…but it also can help destroy the lives of those who are simply “innocent bystanders” who have no way of escape! The aftermath of Jim Jones and the Jonestown “mass suicide” are far-reaching…and the effects of the FALSE DOCTRINES and FALSE TEACHINGS of Jim Jones are still felt by many today. The families of many Jonestown inhabitants still live with the effects of this tragedy today.
Sadly…Christians today are duped by large crowds, bright lights, and the promise of fame and fortune! And…even more sadly…the FALSE PROPHETS and FALSE TEACHERS which so many “Christians” follow today began their ministries by following God and His Word! Somehow…Satan crept in!
The Bible tells us that Satan will “secretly bring in destructive heresies”.
2 Peter 2:1 (NKJV)
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
The word “secretly” tells us it will “sneak in”. The lies of the false prophet will not come in the “front door” where it can recognized for what it is: the “heresies” will be brought in though a “hidden entrance”. This tells us that those who accept this false teaching will not see it for what it is…maybe because it actually SATISFIES their own desires. Face it: poison is often hidden in food because our desire and NEED for food is essential in our existence! Thus…the “good taste” of the surrounding food HIDES the poison, allowing it to go in undetected…or “secretly.”
Then notice the word “destructive”. It is simple: false doctrine is DESTRUCTIVE. It IS poison: and though it may not kill you with one dose, it works its destruction over time…without detection. The “destructive” nature of false doctrine is not seen immediately, in most cases: it is a gradual, slow, silent destruction. But…in the end…it still leads to death!
Today…God is telling me that the situation is dire…and that time is short. We have only a short time to do His work. The fields are ripe…and they are ready for HARVEST! But the voices of FALSE TEACHERS and FALSE PROPHETS have so deceived the laborers that they can no longer see that they are NOT involved in the field…they are too busy sitting in the parlor of the prophet as he speaks of the coming “blessing”! The FALSE PROPHET is calling the people to “the Southern Plantation Mansion” to enjoy a prosperous get-together…while Jesus is calling the people to “the field” to reap the harvest! The FALSE PROPHET seeks to SIT in the LAP OF LUXURY…while Jesus calls us to WORK in the FIELDS as a servant of the LORD OF THE HARVEST!
I pray that God will bless the words I have written…words which I am sure are inspired by His Spirit.
Please pray…please seek God…please seek wisdom and discernment. And…please obey God!
In Christ,
Ron
I have seldom asked for anything from my FB friends…but, today, I ask you for your prayers: for me, for our nation, for the church.
Just this past week, I received two calls from two different people…both asking me “What is God speaking to you about what He wants you to do in ministry?” I answered both honestly, telling them “I am not sure. I just know that He is telling me that He has prepared me for many years for whatever it is. I have been anything but perfect in my life…but I am SURE that God has forgiven me of ALL my past sins and failures. All I know is this: God started me out at the age of 18, sending me to PTL. There, God allowed me to see things that would be SIGNIFICANT to my calling later in life. And, over the past 30 years, he has been preparing me for something…something that I know is soon to be revealed in me.”
Today, I wrote these words to a friend who had emailed me to simply say “Ron, I am praying for you” as she…through discernment…mentioned the “burden” that she knew I must be under:
“I can use all the prayer someone will give. I am getting a lot of flack. People wonder why false doctrine has to be dealt with, etc. Just now…I felt God give me a great rebuttal. False doctrine is harmful...a poison. It works undetected...and that causes people to be blinded to its effects. Truth is like the antidote to false doctrine. Medical attention is needed if we are poisoned...and TRUTH...God's Word...is the only cure for false doctrine. To leave false doctrine alone to do its destructive work equates to leaving a person who is poisoned without medical care. I TRULY feel God saying this is the great apostasy of the church today. Why? False doctrine has been put on a level of EQUALITY with TRUTH! The Word of God has no equal! Jesus has no equal! God stands ALONE as the Pinnacle of all the universe! False doctrine DEMOTES God...in His very EXISTENCE and in His AUTHORITY! What is being done in the name of "Christianity" is simply the act of removing God from His throne.”
Today…I have sat and wept…repeatedly…with this very burden. I am SURE I am not the only one. I know that a man by the name of Eddie A Watson and his wife Carolyn are ALSO feeling this very burden. I do not know either of them personally…we met here through FB…but I know that they care so deeply for the lost…and for the church…and for this nation. And I know that they share with me the concern for what they are seeing in the church today. I am sure that God has been speaking to many other friends…Brian Keith is just one of those that I know personally. Brian became a PTL Singer after my tenure…and Brian and I have spoken recently regarding these same burdens.
All I am sure of is this: time is short. People are dying without Jesus every day. Less than 20% of people in any given city/town/community are actually even going to a church of any kind. There are FEW opportunities available for the Church to actually speak into the lives of these people…and ANY opportunity to do so CANNOT be poisoned by ANY inclusion of FALSE DOCTRINE!
The Bible tells us in John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
FALSE DOCTRINE can NEVER make people free! FALSE DOCTRINE can ONLY bring further BONDAGE!
The WORLD needs the TRUTH again…because the WORLD needs FREEDOM!
The CHURCH needs TRUTH again…because FALSE DOCTRINE is SILENCING the only thing that can bring sight to the blind…and freedom to the captives! THE TRUTH HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE PEOPLE FREE FROM SIN! It is that revelation of TRUTH which allows the BLIND to see. No one seeks freedom without first recognizing that they are a captive bound in chains!
Please…pray WITH me…pray FOR me. I am no more…or no less…broken than any other man: fallible, imperfect, in need of a Savior, in need of a Lord. But I am a man who is TRULY seeking the face…and heart…of God.
And please…pray for ministers and ministries…pray for the Church…pray for those so caught up in foolish and worldly FALSE DOCTRINES. The deception is great…and men and women of God are SELLING OUT to the easier, more profitable “gospels” of earthly wealth and comfort.
But God is asking:
“Where are the men of God who will stand in the face of adversity? Where are the men of God who will stand in the face of persecution? Where are the men of God who will speak TRUTH in the face of FALSE DOCTRINE? Where are the men of God who will speak MY WORDS and forsake THEIR OWN WORDS? Where are the men of God who will preach OBEDIENCE TO MY WORD? Where are the men of God who will be willing to give EVERYTHING for the cause of Jesus, My Son?”
Too many ministers and “Christians” today want God to give THEM everything…instead of wanting to give GOD everything!
Remember:
Matthew 16:21-26 (NKJV)
“From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
The time is SOON coming when serving Jesus Christ may cost us ALL…EVERYTHING!
And I TRULY believe that God is saying that those who have been DECEIVED by FALSE DOCTRINE will NOT be able to stand when these troubling times come! Those who have “bought in” to the “gospels” of earthly wealth and earthly comfort equate to those who have built their house on the sand…and according to God’s Word:
Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV)
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
But the KEY to understanding this passage of Scripture is this:
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
PLEASE…take note of this TRUTH:
When Jesus was speaking about building the house on the sand…verses 26-27...He was speaking of those who built their house on FALSE DOCTRINE! READ IT FOR YOURSELF!
In verses 13-23, Jesus has just spoken about those who preach/teach false doctrine…as He spoke “Beware of false prophets…” Jesus transitions from the recognition of FALSE PROPHETS into the danger of building your HOUSE (your life and beliefs) on the false teachings which COME from those FALSE PROPHETS!
And…too often…many FALSELY believe that “fruit” in some way refers to “followers” or claims of “This doctrine works!“ attributed to these ministers/ministries. In fact. “fruit” is referring to the MESSAGE which is being preached from the pulpits of these ministries…not some abstract measure of “blessings“ attributed to following the “principles“ taught by the false prophet!
The Greek word for FRUIT is KARPOS. Its literal translation is “from the base of”. Here is its true meaning:
An apple tree bears apples.
A pear tree bears pears.
A fig tree bears figs.
A pecan tree bears pecans.
A TRUE PROPHET bears TRUTH.
A FALSE PROPHET bears FALSE DOCTRINE.
An apple tree is not just an apple tree at the distinct point of the apple…it is an apple tree "from the base of" the tree: at its ROOTS! It is our FOUNDATION…whether we stand on the TRUTH of the ROCK or on the LIE of the SAND…which determines our position of safety and security...which resides in TRUTH. So do not be fooled by those who come with apples in hand as they cry, "Our ministry is for real! See the fruit!" They may hold an apple...but that apple is not a sign of "God's favor" on their ministry. In most cases, God ministers to people IN SPITE of the FALSE TEACHER'S ministry...not BECAUSE of it!
Therefore, a huge following CANNOT be the measure of a ministry! Some of the largest ministries and religions that have ever existed have been built upon FALSE DOCTRINE! Throughout the world, there are more MUSLIMS, HINDUS, etc. than there are CHRISTIANS…but the number of people FOLLOWING a religion is not a measure of the TRUTH of that religion!
Does the ministry of Jim Jones ring a bell with anyone….those old enough to remember…or those who have heard the story? Jim Jones started as a Pentecostal preacher. He had a mainstream ministry. Jones would become friends with dignitaries…both domestic and foreign. He rubbed shoulders with prominent politicians. Jones gained a large following.
But…Jones soon entered into FALSE DOCTRINE. In time, Jones’ ministry was steeped in controversy and investigation. To make a long story short…Jones would move his entire operation/ministry to Jonestown, Guyana. In time, Congressman Jim Ryan would arrive with a delegation to investigate a report of “civil rights violations” in the compound. The next day…November 18, 1978...Congressman Ryan and 4 others were attacked and murdered as they tried to board a plane to return to the United States. The attack was caught on camera by an NBC cameraman…and it was shown world-wide on TV. By the end of the day, 909 people would be dead…including Jim Jones…as a result of a cyanide-spiked Kool-Aid type drink mix. It was labeled a “mass suicide”…yet it appears that many were forced to drink the deadly mix…specifically the children. 303 of those who died that day were just young children! Not only did FALSE DOCTRINE lead to the deaths of those who so willingly and deceptively had been led down that path of ERROR…but innocent children died as a result! FALSE DOCTRINE doesn’t just wield its destruction on those who WILLINGLY follow…but it also can help destroy the lives of those who are simply “innocent bystanders” who have no way of escape! The aftermath of Jim Jones and the Jonestown “mass suicide” are far-reaching…and the effects of the FALSE DOCTRINES and FALSE TEACHINGS of Jim Jones are still felt by many today. The families of many Jonestown inhabitants still live with the effects of this tragedy today.
Sadly…Christians today are duped by large crowds, bright lights, and the promise of fame and fortune! And…even more sadly…the FALSE PROPHETS and FALSE TEACHERS which so many “Christians” follow today began their ministries by following God and His Word! Somehow…Satan crept in!
The Bible tells us that Satan will “secretly bring in destructive heresies”.
2 Peter 2:1 (NKJV)
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
The word “secretly” tells us it will “sneak in”. The lies of the false prophet will not come in the “front door” where it can recognized for what it is: the “heresies” will be brought in though a “hidden entrance”. This tells us that those who accept this false teaching will not see it for what it is…maybe because it actually SATISFIES their own desires. Face it: poison is often hidden in food because our desire and NEED for food is essential in our existence! Thus…the “good taste” of the surrounding food HIDES the poison, allowing it to go in undetected…or “secretly.”
Then notice the word “destructive”. It is simple: false doctrine is DESTRUCTIVE. It IS poison: and though it may not kill you with one dose, it works its destruction over time…without detection. The “destructive” nature of false doctrine is not seen immediately, in most cases: it is a gradual, slow, silent destruction. But…in the end…it still leads to death!
Today…God is telling me that the situation is dire…and that time is short. We have only a short time to do His work. The fields are ripe…and they are ready for HARVEST! But the voices of FALSE TEACHERS and FALSE PROPHETS have so deceived the laborers that they can no longer see that they are NOT involved in the field…they are too busy sitting in the parlor of the prophet as he speaks of the coming “blessing”! The FALSE PROPHET is calling the people to “the Southern Plantation Mansion” to enjoy a prosperous get-together…while Jesus is calling the people to “the field” to reap the harvest! The FALSE PROPHET seeks to SIT in the LAP OF LUXURY…while Jesus calls us to WORK in the FIELDS as a servant of the LORD OF THE HARVEST!
I pray that God will bless the words I have written…words which I am sure are inspired by His Spirit.
Please pray…please seek God…please seek wisdom and discernment. And…please obey God!
In Christ,
Ron
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
A Response to Perry Stone's "Special Ministry Update"
Here are my prayerful observations on Perry Stone’s latest ministry update (it is linked at the end):
1. Perry’s use of Joel 2:28-29 cannot be a revelation of something “to come” due to Acts 2:17-18. Peter would say that what the people were witnessing 2000 YEARS AGO as the Disciples exited the Upper Room was a fulfillment of Joel 2:28-29. This is NOT some promise that has gone unfulfilled until our present time (2012 and beyond): this is a promise that WAS fulfilled when the Disciples obeyed Jesus by coming together in that Upper Room…and the Holy Spirit came. Therefore, God could NOT be the one who was speaking to Perry…speaking that this promise was YET TO BE FULFILLED.
The true teaching of Joel 2:28-29 and Acts 2:17-18 is NOT some “future outpouring which is to come”…it is telling us that a time will come when the message of the Kingdom will NOT be limited in its teaching and scope: that what was once only the role of the Priests and the Prophets would now be done through ALL BELIEVERS…as the Holy Spirit indwells each and every believer, enduing them with the power to be witnesses for Jesus! This outpouring was not limited to “a younger generation”. This is even noted in the passage in Joel itself! It actually denotes that God’s Spirit will be poured out on ALL generations…young and old alike…EQUALLY!
Yet…the primary fact to denote is that this “outpouring” was instituted…as stated by Peter as he spoke to the people who had gathered outside the Upper Room…on THAT VERY DAY: a day in time which occurred approximately 2000 YEARS AGO! And God has been pouring out His Spirit from that time to now. There is NO NEW OUTPOURING to come.
2. Perry states “Satan, I am going to make you pay for what you have done.“ First, I would note that Perry said “I” and not “God is going to make you pay…”. That is a self-sufficient statement…not a God-sufficient statement. We, as believers, already know the final destination of Satan: the lake of fire. And, though Satan can wreak havoc in the lives of people, those who actually live in sin will never be able to stand before God and simply say “The devil made me do it.” Yes…the ULTIMATE blame for sin, etc. goes to Satan. But…we must take responsibility for our actions and failures…and our OBEDIENCE or DISOBEDIENCE to God. Satan will ULTIMATELY pay for all that he has done…but it will not be because Perry Stone has sought to make him pay.
3. Regarding Perry being told by God that he (Perry) is to be “mentor” and a “father to a generation.” - Perry said he “wants to be the Father to a generation” yet he didn’t feel he could because of all he is involved in. God GREATLY spoke to my spirit as I heard this statement from Perry. Every minister is to care for those under their care…whether young or old. When God spoke to Abraham, telling him that he would be “the father of many nations”…note that Abraham did NOT go public with that proclamation! Though God had spoken…Abraham never stepped forward to proclaim himself as the chosen one. I am SURE that God is saying “I want EVERY BELIEVER to care for EVERY generation. And the YOUNGER generation holds no special significance over the OLDER generation. I spoke in My Word that I would pour My Spirit out on ALL flesh…young and old alike! Every generation is significant! Every believer who still has the breath of life within them is a believer that I want to use! And I do NOT want what is spoken into the life of ANY generation to be a voice of FALSE DOCTRINE!"
4. The Study Bible which Perry says God told him to do - Many preachers/teachers do their OWN study Bible…which further SILENCES the voices of others within the ministry. Not only will Perry’s “partners” hear Perry’s constant voice…they will now even hear it almost EXCLUSIVELY as they study the Bible. There is “wisdom in a multitude of council.” It will be ESSENTIAL for those “partners” to seek out OTHER voices of confirmation…or false doctrine finds an unimpeded path. Not all men who author a study Bible are in error…but Perry HAS been involved in doctrinal error recently as he has begun to openly espouse the prosperity gospel. I will just say this how I felt God speak it: Beware of men who wish THEIR voice to the be the PRIMARY voice heard by followers! The Word of God needs to be CONFIRMED…not EXPLAINED by only one specific, chosen leader of a ministry. Personally…I would NEVER do a RON SMITH STUDY BIBLE. The Word of God needs to speak for itself. Then…there needs to be a VARIETY of PROVEN voices speaking in CONFIRMATION to that Word.
5. Perry says God spoke to him saying “I want you to build a gathering place. I am going to bring in youth and adults in conferences and meetings from around the world to Cleveland, TN.” Perry then goes on to tell of some gentleman who is “80 years of age” who “shared with us” some story of an “angel of God” appearing to a man…standing at “the foot of his bed”…and telling him that Cleveland, TN would be the “hub” for a worldwide revival “in the last days.” Of course, with the many religious/Christian organizations which are located in Cleveland, TN…the possibility of God using Cleveland, TN is actually not futuristic…it is just reality.
It is then that Perry begins to talk of the ministry center he is building…calling it a “16 million dollar gathering place.” Perry then states “This is going to be a hub or a headquarters or a gathering place for the move of God.” Perry then compares this to JERUSALEM.
Now…I am ALREADY assured by God (as He speaks to my spirit) that MANY already believe that I am in error to even mention ANY of this. But…God tells me that it is time to speak…even in the face of opposition. And…God is telling me to speak now…after almost 30 years…about all I have learned and gleaned from Him and His Word regarding the building of ministries…and when men go BEYOND his intentions for ministry!
In 1983, I became an employee of Heritage USA in Charlotte, North Carolina. That was the ministry location and empire of PTL founder and president Jim Bakker. God sent me to PTL at a time of great transition for Heritage USA and the PTL ministry. I became a PTL Singer…where I served for one year.
Heritage USA Ministries (which I will simply denote as PTL from this point on) was built on almost the same principles which are being spoken by Perry Stone now. Jim Bakker spoke regularly and often that it was “God” telling him to build. During my time at PTL, the announcement for the Heritage Grand Hotel and Ministry Center came. The construction for this project would begin during my tenure at PTL…yet I was not there to see it in its completion…nor the subsequent building which would take place on the PTL grounds. What ended up being built was astounding in its scope! Even more astounding? The scope of its fall! What was once the largest ministry on earth now ceases to even exist! As I have prayed over the recent days…I went to YouTube and viewed videos of PTL…the “BEFORE” and “AFTER” of it all. At its height…PTL was almost monstrous in scope and scale. And…it seemed that it was “ordained of God”…and, thus, that it was established forever!
Yet, behind the scenes, this 18 year old, immature, naïve teenager began to see the REALITY of PTL…and the PUBLIC APPEARANCE was not matching the BEHIND THE SCENES REALITY! I will not begin to delve into all that I saw…but it was EVIDENT that it was NOT God who was pushing the buttons and pulling the strings of PTL! Did God WANT to be in control? YES! WAS God in control? NO!
I could go into SO MANY aspects of what I saw and what God showed me that it would take a BOOK to contain it! I will abstain from writing it all here…even though many see what I write as a “mini-book” already!
Here is the key to all of this:
As I witnessed the many things “behind the scenes” at PTL…I became VERY troubled. I was young…I was impressionable…and I somehow knew that God was NOT “blessing” as the leadership claimed. It was there that God helped me to realize that NOTHING can be equated to “blessings of God” simply by looking at earthly success and kingdoms! I remember the realization of this when I felt God speak to me in prayer, saying “If wealth and great buildings and fine cars and the appearance of earthly success are signs of my blessings on believers and ministries…then wealthy drug dealers, the mafia, and every other wealthy law breaking sinner would be considered ‘blessed by God’…and they are NOT! Evil men will sometimes PROSPER…and good men will sometimes NOT prosper (at least by earthly standards)! The sign of My blessing on a ministry is NOT seen in earthly kingdoms! The sign of My blessing on a ministry is in its TRUTH…in front of the camera and behind the scenes!”
What I am about to reveal I have only spoken about to VERY FEW people…I believe no more than a half dozen people or so. While in prayer regarding the things I was witnessing while employed at PTL…God spoke to me these words:
“With your eyes, you will witness the fall and destruction of this ministry. It was NOT built under my authority nor instruction: it was built under the deception of men. I could have used it even still…yet the failure to REPENT has set in motion its downfall.” (I can only paraphrase what God spoke.)
Now…before someone sits in disbelief over what I have just spoken…let me reveal something that happened while I was a PTL Singer:
Some time in late 1983 or early 1984, we had a VERY SPECIAL and VERY UNUSUAL meeting. All of the employees were called to a meeting in what was known as “The Barn” (does this sound VAGUELY familiar…Perry has built a “barn” for ministry: coincidence?). EVERY employee of Heritage USA was called to this meeting (I am not sure who or how many were left at their job posts to allow the grounds to continue even operating). As we walked into The Barn, we were handed a bag of peanuts (the kind in the shell that you break open, leaving peanut husks everywhere) and told to sit on the floor. All the seats (to the best of my recollection…I saw NONE in the seating area of the auditorium) were removed…and there were two stools in the very middle of the entire auditorium. We were simply told that Jim had a VERY IMPORTANT word for all of us.
Soon, Jim Bakker came out and sat on one of the stools. With Jim was the Reverend James Robison (of the program “Life Today”). Jim came out and said that James Robison had come to speak with him…and Jim said that he KNEW that God had sent James Robison to PTL to speak this word. And now…Jim wanted James to speak this word to all of the employees. What was then said was quite astounding to me…I was shaken. God was INDEED speaking to…and through…James Robison. I remember being shocked that Jim would allow anyone to even speak such things!
What James Robison would basically speak…in humble brokenness…was this:
“God is not pleased with all that is going on a PTL. Jim Bakker has surrounded himself with “yes men”…and this has resulted in a lack of accountability . Many things being done in the name of “God” are actually not being instructed by God at all. God is declaring that unless there is REPENTANCE and unless things change…God will cease to strive with this ministry. The “yes men” need to go! And the leadership needs to begin to council Jim in WISDOM…not in blind gullibility. God can still use PTL to minister to the lost and dying and needy of this world…but it MUST turn away from the false gospel of wealth and greed which has so consumed its ministry. God ALWAYS wants to restore those who have gone astray…it is never God’s desire that some be lost in judgment. So…God is speaking to Jim Bakker and PTL: turn from your present course and set your direction and eyes on Him! There is still hope!” (paraphrased)
Sadly…we all know what would happen. History cannot be changed. As an employee and a PTL Singer…I saw a very small sign of change: but that lasted less than two weeks. Very soon…everything simply went back to “business as usual.” History now tells the story of Heritage USA/PTL Ministries….what once was.
There are many other examples of men who make the claim that “God is telling me to build”…all claiming that God wants to use THEIR ministry…THEIR place…to reach the masses.
Many forget the story of Oral Roberts…when Roberts claimed much the same as Jim Bakker…and much the same as Perry Stone. Roberts said God told him to “build”…to build a place where people would come, etc. It would become known as the “City of Faith.” With it, Roberts would build a hospital…a place where, if built, God would provide the cure for cancer…all according to Roberts. And…Roberts would raise the funds through “partners”…and the place would actually be built!
Yet…time would prove that God was NOT the voice speaking to Oral Roberts (listen: if God says something WILL happen…then it WILL happen: and vice versa!), In time, it would all fail…with bankruptcy looming and the hospital in great debt…the hospital closed…and no cure for cancer ever came. The hospital had opened in 1981...and by 1986 it had lost millions of dollars each year.
The hospital closed in 1989...only 8 years after its construction was completed.
With Jim Bakker and Oral Roberts…many thought they could not build it without God’s help. Many believed that the simple fact that these places WERE built was some verification that God was the one “blessing” these ministries. But just because a Christian ministry BUILDS does not mean that it is God INSTRUCTING them to build! But…in every instance…ministry leaders proclaim to the “partners” that they are “building” because “God told me to.” What else CAN they claim?!? Who would build anything while admitting “This is MY dream. This is what I want to do. God did not tell me to do it…I just WANT to do it.”
What we really see is that men can indeed build…but any kingdom built on ANYTHING other than JESUS and His truth (built on the ROCK) will one day crumble! Sadly…the millions upon millions of dollars spent during the time of “building” can never be recovered! And…the time and money lost in a DECEIVED attempt at building a kingdom of man is time and money that could have been spent reaching the lost! Further…the people who become disillusioned by the antics of ministries such as these are simply BEYOND NUMBER. Lives are destroyed, fortunes lost…and, the worst part, NON-fortunes are lost…as average men and women pour money into projects proclaimed by their favorite preacher and ministry as “God’s will and instruction to BUILD!” All the while…”partners” lavish praise on the ministry leader…believing any and all words which come forth from the leader’s mouth. It is “blind faith”…and each leader knows that he holds the power to sway his “partners” in their thinking. Face it: if the ministry leader proclaims something “is not of God”…then the “partners” will believe it. Conversely…if the ministry leader says something “is of God”…then the “partners” will believe it. The loyalty is to the MINISTRY LEADER…yet any loyalty to the Word of God is filtered through the ministry leader…and wisdom and discernment disappear among the followers. The PIED PIPER mentality rules and reigns within this realm of ministry. Any “voice of opposition”…anyone who questions the “voice of God” within the ministry…is quickly silenced. The ministry leader labels anyone who disagrees with what THEY (the ministry leader) say in a variety of ways…ranging from “simply wrong” to “carnal Christians” to “evil tools of Satan.”
For 30 years I have wondered why God even sent me to PTL. I never wanted to go. I argued with God. But I went after KNOWING it was his will. But…I realize that I have NEVER heard God’s voice speak to me “Go build a huge ministry that costs millions and millions of dollars. Get that money from “partners”. Spend that time and energy and money on a ministry which will focus on THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY SAVED…giving them a place to further focus on their own “blessing”…whether they see that blessing as financial and/or spiritual hype. Keep my people together…constantly focusing on EARTHLY subjects and each other. Focus on the needs of CHRISTIANS in every aspect of ministry. Let them partner with you. Build them up. Keep them happy. Give them a place to come. Do not worry about my command to “Go!” No…I want them here at your ministry center…busy learning from you…instead of going into the world and telling others about Me.”
You see…what I realize about ALL of these ministries is this: all of them can do what they do WITHOUT the kingdoms they have built…or are seeking to build! Oral Roberts didn’t need the City of Faith to be more effective: he just WANTED it. Jim Bakker did not need Heritage USA to be more effective: he just WANTED it. Perry Stone doesn’t need this new 16 million dollar center to be more effective: he just WANTS it.
And notice this CRUCIAL truth:
Each of these men had already begun to enter into FALSE DOCTRINE at the time that they claim God spoke to them to “BUILD!” Jim Bakker and Oral Roberts BOTH entered into the false doctrine known as the PROSPERITY GOSPEL at the very time in which they claimed God was speaking to them…claiming God wanted them to ask for money from “partners” in order to get donations for their projects. Perry Stone’s recent Manna-Fest programs have done this same thing: the programs featuring Walter Hallam have been nothing but teachings of FALSE DOCTRINE.
The patterns here are EERIE in there fulfillment…especially with Jim Bakker and Perry Stone both making one of their first buildings a BARN structure.
When I first felt God say “Perry is following the same spirit that Jim Bakker followed many years ago.”… I had NOT noticed that Jim and Perry both built a BARN as one of their first “instructions from God.”
Here is what God just spoke to me today: “My Word states that I will build My Church…and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Every community has churches…churches that I placed there for a DISTINCT purpose. It is the local churches which are ordained by ME to be the place of refuge when troubling times come. By working through LOCAL churches…EVERY community possesses the opportunity to reach THAT SPECIFIC community. And…whether in a time of plenty or in a time of need…the LOCAL churches which I have ordained can be my “light in the darkness”. Modern ministries have usurped the authority and even the provisions which were meant to be given and used within LOCAL communities. Mega-ministries have claimed to be My voice…doing so as they seek to gain a huge following, building kingdoms that I NEVER said to build. In doing so, they are actually thieves…thieves who steal the provisions which are meant to be used within communities around the world. Yet…the provisions are used to create large places of concentrated power…places where MEN are crowned Kings…Kings of THEIR OWN kingdoms. I ordained the CHURCH…local churches…so that ALL POWER remains concentrated IN ME…not IN MEN! I want places of refuge (churches) in EVERY city and community. And I want each place of refuge looking UP…looking to ME…not placing its focus on some KINGDOM OF MAN in some far away community! I want to reach Cleveland, TN through CHURCHES in Cleveland, TN! I want to reach Cleveland, OH through CHURCHES in Cleveland, OH! I want to reach YOUR TOWN through CHURCHES in YOUR TOWN!”
I have written what God has instructed me to write on this. I am SURE that the recent programs by Perry Stone have been false doctrine. The Bible PLAINLY exposes the teaching as such. I am in prayer for Perry, for the Church, for Christians everywhere. Time is short…and God has for too long been USED as an excuse for men to build their own little kingdoms. This nonsense must stop! God wants HIS GOSPEL to be proclaimed…not some hyphenated false gospel (when we have to define the “gospel” being taught because it isn’t THE Gospel!)!
It is time that ministries and ministers return to their TRUE calling. It is time for REPENTANCE and APOLOGIES in the Church. Jim Bakker wrote a book entitled “I Was Wrong.” It is time other false teachers write those same words…and that they return to TRUTH again.
The link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-UPyQvdYDU
1. Perry’s use of Joel 2:28-29 cannot be a revelation of something “to come” due to Acts 2:17-18. Peter would say that what the people were witnessing 2000 YEARS AGO as the Disciples exited the Upper Room was a fulfillment of Joel 2:28-29. This is NOT some promise that has gone unfulfilled until our present time (2012 and beyond): this is a promise that WAS fulfilled when the Disciples obeyed Jesus by coming together in that Upper Room…and the Holy Spirit came. Therefore, God could NOT be the one who was speaking to Perry…speaking that this promise was YET TO BE FULFILLED.
The true teaching of Joel 2:28-29 and Acts 2:17-18 is NOT some “future outpouring which is to come”…it is telling us that a time will come when the message of the Kingdom will NOT be limited in its teaching and scope: that what was once only the role of the Priests and the Prophets would now be done through ALL BELIEVERS…as the Holy Spirit indwells each and every believer, enduing them with the power to be witnesses for Jesus! This outpouring was not limited to “a younger generation”. This is even noted in the passage in Joel itself! It actually denotes that God’s Spirit will be poured out on ALL generations…young and old alike…EQUALLY!
Yet…the primary fact to denote is that this “outpouring” was instituted…as stated by Peter as he spoke to the people who had gathered outside the Upper Room…on THAT VERY DAY: a day in time which occurred approximately 2000 YEARS AGO! And God has been pouring out His Spirit from that time to now. There is NO NEW OUTPOURING to come.
2. Perry states “Satan, I am going to make you pay for what you have done.“ First, I would note that Perry said “I” and not “God is going to make you pay…”. That is a self-sufficient statement…not a God-sufficient statement. We, as believers, already know the final destination of Satan: the lake of fire. And, though Satan can wreak havoc in the lives of people, those who actually live in sin will never be able to stand before God and simply say “The devil made me do it.” Yes…the ULTIMATE blame for sin, etc. goes to Satan. But…we must take responsibility for our actions and failures…and our OBEDIENCE or DISOBEDIENCE to God. Satan will ULTIMATELY pay for all that he has done…but it will not be because Perry Stone has sought to make him pay.
3. Regarding Perry being told by God that he (Perry) is to be “mentor” and a “father to a generation.” - Perry said he “wants to be the Father to a generation” yet he didn’t feel he could because of all he is involved in. God GREATLY spoke to my spirit as I heard this statement from Perry. Every minister is to care for those under their care…whether young or old. When God spoke to Abraham, telling him that he would be “the father of many nations”…note that Abraham did NOT go public with that proclamation! Though God had spoken…Abraham never stepped forward to proclaim himself as the chosen one. I am SURE that God is saying “I want EVERY BELIEVER to care for EVERY generation. And the YOUNGER generation holds no special significance over the OLDER generation. I spoke in My Word that I would pour My Spirit out on ALL flesh…young and old alike! Every generation is significant! Every believer who still has the breath of life within them is a believer that I want to use! And I do NOT want what is spoken into the life of ANY generation to be a voice of FALSE DOCTRINE!"
4. The Study Bible which Perry says God told him to do - Many preachers/teachers do their OWN study Bible…which further SILENCES the voices of others within the ministry. Not only will Perry’s “partners” hear Perry’s constant voice…they will now even hear it almost EXCLUSIVELY as they study the Bible. There is “wisdom in a multitude of council.” It will be ESSENTIAL for those “partners” to seek out OTHER voices of confirmation…or false doctrine finds an unimpeded path. Not all men who author a study Bible are in error…but Perry HAS been involved in doctrinal error recently as he has begun to openly espouse the prosperity gospel. I will just say this how I felt God speak it: Beware of men who wish THEIR voice to the be the PRIMARY voice heard by followers! The Word of God needs to be CONFIRMED…not EXPLAINED by only one specific, chosen leader of a ministry. Personally…I would NEVER do a RON SMITH STUDY BIBLE. The Word of God needs to speak for itself. Then…there needs to be a VARIETY of PROVEN voices speaking in CONFIRMATION to that Word.
5. Perry says God spoke to him saying “I want you to build a gathering place. I am going to bring in youth and adults in conferences and meetings from around the world to Cleveland, TN.” Perry then goes on to tell of some gentleman who is “80 years of age” who “shared with us” some story of an “angel of God” appearing to a man…standing at “the foot of his bed”…and telling him that Cleveland, TN would be the “hub” for a worldwide revival “in the last days.” Of course, with the many religious/Christian organizations which are located in Cleveland, TN…the possibility of God using Cleveland, TN is actually not futuristic…it is just reality.
It is then that Perry begins to talk of the ministry center he is building…calling it a “16 million dollar gathering place.” Perry then states “This is going to be a hub or a headquarters or a gathering place for the move of God.” Perry then compares this to JERUSALEM.
Now…I am ALREADY assured by God (as He speaks to my spirit) that MANY already believe that I am in error to even mention ANY of this. But…God tells me that it is time to speak…even in the face of opposition. And…God is telling me to speak now…after almost 30 years…about all I have learned and gleaned from Him and His Word regarding the building of ministries…and when men go BEYOND his intentions for ministry!
In 1983, I became an employee of Heritage USA in Charlotte, North Carolina. That was the ministry location and empire of PTL founder and president Jim Bakker. God sent me to PTL at a time of great transition for Heritage USA and the PTL ministry. I became a PTL Singer…where I served for one year.
Heritage USA Ministries (which I will simply denote as PTL from this point on) was built on almost the same principles which are being spoken by Perry Stone now. Jim Bakker spoke regularly and often that it was “God” telling him to build. During my time at PTL, the announcement for the Heritage Grand Hotel and Ministry Center came. The construction for this project would begin during my tenure at PTL…yet I was not there to see it in its completion…nor the subsequent building which would take place on the PTL grounds. What ended up being built was astounding in its scope! Even more astounding? The scope of its fall! What was once the largest ministry on earth now ceases to even exist! As I have prayed over the recent days…I went to YouTube and viewed videos of PTL…the “BEFORE” and “AFTER” of it all. At its height…PTL was almost monstrous in scope and scale. And…it seemed that it was “ordained of God”…and, thus, that it was established forever!
Yet, behind the scenes, this 18 year old, immature, naïve teenager began to see the REALITY of PTL…and the PUBLIC APPEARANCE was not matching the BEHIND THE SCENES REALITY! I will not begin to delve into all that I saw…but it was EVIDENT that it was NOT God who was pushing the buttons and pulling the strings of PTL! Did God WANT to be in control? YES! WAS God in control? NO!
I could go into SO MANY aspects of what I saw and what God showed me that it would take a BOOK to contain it! I will abstain from writing it all here…even though many see what I write as a “mini-book” already!
Here is the key to all of this:
As I witnessed the many things “behind the scenes” at PTL…I became VERY troubled. I was young…I was impressionable…and I somehow knew that God was NOT “blessing” as the leadership claimed. It was there that God helped me to realize that NOTHING can be equated to “blessings of God” simply by looking at earthly success and kingdoms! I remember the realization of this when I felt God speak to me in prayer, saying “If wealth and great buildings and fine cars and the appearance of earthly success are signs of my blessings on believers and ministries…then wealthy drug dealers, the mafia, and every other wealthy law breaking sinner would be considered ‘blessed by God’…and they are NOT! Evil men will sometimes PROSPER…and good men will sometimes NOT prosper (at least by earthly standards)! The sign of My blessing on a ministry is NOT seen in earthly kingdoms! The sign of My blessing on a ministry is in its TRUTH…in front of the camera and behind the scenes!”
What I am about to reveal I have only spoken about to VERY FEW people…I believe no more than a half dozen people or so. While in prayer regarding the things I was witnessing while employed at PTL…God spoke to me these words:
“With your eyes, you will witness the fall and destruction of this ministry. It was NOT built under my authority nor instruction: it was built under the deception of men. I could have used it even still…yet the failure to REPENT has set in motion its downfall.” (I can only paraphrase what God spoke.)
Now…before someone sits in disbelief over what I have just spoken…let me reveal something that happened while I was a PTL Singer:
Some time in late 1983 or early 1984, we had a VERY SPECIAL and VERY UNUSUAL meeting. All of the employees were called to a meeting in what was known as “The Barn” (does this sound VAGUELY familiar…Perry has built a “barn” for ministry: coincidence?). EVERY employee of Heritage USA was called to this meeting (I am not sure who or how many were left at their job posts to allow the grounds to continue even operating). As we walked into The Barn, we were handed a bag of peanuts (the kind in the shell that you break open, leaving peanut husks everywhere) and told to sit on the floor. All the seats (to the best of my recollection…I saw NONE in the seating area of the auditorium) were removed…and there were two stools in the very middle of the entire auditorium. We were simply told that Jim had a VERY IMPORTANT word for all of us.
Soon, Jim Bakker came out and sat on one of the stools. With Jim was the Reverend James Robison (of the program “Life Today”). Jim came out and said that James Robison had come to speak with him…and Jim said that he KNEW that God had sent James Robison to PTL to speak this word. And now…Jim wanted James to speak this word to all of the employees. What was then said was quite astounding to me…I was shaken. God was INDEED speaking to…and through…James Robison. I remember being shocked that Jim would allow anyone to even speak such things!
What James Robison would basically speak…in humble brokenness…was this:
“God is not pleased with all that is going on a PTL. Jim Bakker has surrounded himself with “yes men”…and this has resulted in a lack of accountability . Many things being done in the name of “God” are actually not being instructed by God at all. God is declaring that unless there is REPENTANCE and unless things change…God will cease to strive with this ministry. The “yes men” need to go! And the leadership needs to begin to council Jim in WISDOM…not in blind gullibility. God can still use PTL to minister to the lost and dying and needy of this world…but it MUST turn away from the false gospel of wealth and greed which has so consumed its ministry. God ALWAYS wants to restore those who have gone astray…it is never God’s desire that some be lost in judgment. So…God is speaking to Jim Bakker and PTL: turn from your present course and set your direction and eyes on Him! There is still hope!” (paraphrased)
Sadly…we all know what would happen. History cannot be changed. As an employee and a PTL Singer…I saw a very small sign of change: but that lasted less than two weeks. Very soon…everything simply went back to “business as usual.” History now tells the story of Heritage USA/PTL Ministries….what once was.
There are many other examples of men who make the claim that “God is telling me to build”…all claiming that God wants to use THEIR ministry…THEIR place…to reach the masses.
Many forget the story of Oral Roberts…when Roberts claimed much the same as Jim Bakker…and much the same as Perry Stone. Roberts said God told him to “build”…to build a place where people would come, etc. It would become known as the “City of Faith.” With it, Roberts would build a hospital…a place where, if built, God would provide the cure for cancer…all according to Roberts. And…Roberts would raise the funds through “partners”…and the place would actually be built!
Yet…time would prove that God was NOT the voice speaking to Oral Roberts (listen: if God says something WILL happen…then it WILL happen: and vice versa!), In time, it would all fail…with bankruptcy looming and the hospital in great debt…the hospital closed…and no cure for cancer ever came. The hospital had opened in 1981...and by 1986 it had lost millions of dollars each year.
The hospital closed in 1989...only 8 years after its construction was completed.
With Jim Bakker and Oral Roberts…many thought they could not build it without God’s help. Many believed that the simple fact that these places WERE built was some verification that God was the one “blessing” these ministries. But just because a Christian ministry BUILDS does not mean that it is God INSTRUCTING them to build! But…in every instance…ministry leaders proclaim to the “partners” that they are “building” because “God told me to.” What else CAN they claim?!? Who would build anything while admitting “This is MY dream. This is what I want to do. God did not tell me to do it…I just WANT to do it.”
What we really see is that men can indeed build…but any kingdom built on ANYTHING other than JESUS and His truth (built on the ROCK) will one day crumble! Sadly…the millions upon millions of dollars spent during the time of “building” can never be recovered! And…the time and money lost in a DECEIVED attempt at building a kingdom of man is time and money that could have been spent reaching the lost! Further…the people who become disillusioned by the antics of ministries such as these are simply BEYOND NUMBER. Lives are destroyed, fortunes lost…and, the worst part, NON-fortunes are lost…as average men and women pour money into projects proclaimed by their favorite preacher and ministry as “God’s will and instruction to BUILD!” All the while…”partners” lavish praise on the ministry leader…believing any and all words which come forth from the leader’s mouth. It is “blind faith”…and each leader knows that he holds the power to sway his “partners” in their thinking. Face it: if the ministry leader proclaims something “is not of God”…then the “partners” will believe it. Conversely…if the ministry leader says something “is of God”…then the “partners” will believe it. The loyalty is to the MINISTRY LEADER…yet any loyalty to the Word of God is filtered through the ministry leader…and wisdom and discernment disappear among the followers. The PIED PIPER mentality rules and reigns within this realm of ministry. Any “voice of opposition”…anyone who questions the “voice of God” within the ministry…is quickly silenced. The ministry leader labels anyone who disagrees with what THEY (the ministry leader) say in a variety of ways…ranging from “simply wrong” to “carnal Christians” to “evil tools of Satan.”
For 30 years I have wondered why God even sent me to PTL. I never wanted to go. I argued with God. But I went after KNOWING it was his will. But…I realize that I have NEVER heard God’s voice speak to me “Go build a huge ministry that costs millions and millions of dollars. Get that money from “partners”. Spend that time and energy and money on a ministry which will focus on THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY SAVED…giving them a place to further focus on their own “blessing”…whether they see that blessing as financial and/or spiritual hype. Keep my people together…constantly focusing on EARTHLY subjects and each other. Focus on the needs of CHRISTIANS in every aspect of ministry. Let them partner with you. Build them up. Keep them happy. Give them a place to come. Do not worry about my command to “Go!” No…I want them here at your ministry center…busy learning from you…instead of going into the world and telling others about Me.”
You see…what I realize about ALL of these ministries is this: all of them can do what they do WITHOUT the kingdoms they have built…or are seeking to build! Oral Roberts didn’t need the City of Faith to be more effective: he just WANTED it. Jim Bakker did not need Heritage USA to be more effective: he just WANTED it. Perry Stone doesn’t need this new 16 million dollar center to be more effective: he just WANTS it.
And notice this CRUCIAL truth:
Each of these men had already begun to enter into FALSE DOCTRINE at the time that they claim God spoke to them to “BUILD!” Jim Bakker and Oral Roberts BOTH entered into the false doctrine known as the PROSPERITY GOSPEL at the very time in which they claimed God was speaking to them…claiming God wanted them to ask for money from “partners” in order to get donations for their projects. Perry Stone’s recent Manna-Fest programs have done this same thing: the programs featuring Walter Hallam have been nothing but teachings of FALSE DOCTRINE.
The patterns here are EERIE in there fulfillment…especially with Jim Bakker and Perry Stone both making one of their first buildings a BARN structure.
When I first felt God say “Perry is following the same spirit that Jim Bakker followed many years ago.”… I had NOT noticed that Jim and Perry both built a BARN as one of their first “instructions from God.”
Here is what God just spoke to me today: “My Word states that I will build My Church…and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Every community has churches…churches that I placed there for a DISTINCT purpose. It is the local churches which are ordained by ME to be the place of refuge when troubling times come. By working through LOCAL churches…EVERY community possesses the opportunity to reach THAT SPECIFIC community. And…whether in a time of plenty or in a time of need…the LOCAL churches which I have ordained can be my “light in the darkness”. Modern ministries have usurped the authority and even the provisions which were meant to be given and used within LOCAL communities. Mega-ministries have claimed to be My voice…doing so as they seek to gain a huge following, building kingdoms that I NEVER said to build. In doing so, they are actually thieves…thieves who steal the provisions which are meant to be used within communities around the world. Yet…the provisions are used to create large places of concentrated power…places where MEN are crowned Kings…Kings of THEIR OWN kingdoms. I ordained the CHURCH…local churches…so that ALL POWER remains concentrated IN ME…not IN MEN! I want places of refuge (churches) in EVERY city and community. And I want each place of refuge looking UP…looking to ME…not placing its focus on some KINGDOM OF MAN in some far away community! I want to reach Cleveland, TN through CHURCHES in Cleveland, TN! I want to reach Cleveland, OH through CHURCHES in Cleveland, OH! I want to reach YOUR TOWN through CHURCHES in YOUR TOWN!”
I have written what God has instructed me to write on this. I am SURE that the recent programs by Perry Stone have been false doctrine. The Bible PLAINLY exposes the teaching as such. I am in prayer for Perry, for the Church, for Christians everywhere. Time is short…and God has for too long been USED as an excuse for men to build their own little kingdoms. This nonsense must stop! God wants HIS GOSPEL to be proclaimed…not some hyphenated false gospel (when we have to define the “gospel” being taught because it isn’t THE Gospel!)!
It is time that ministries and ministers return to their TRUE calling. It is time for REPENTANCE and APOLOGIES in the Church. Jim Bakker wrote a book entitled “I Was Wrong.” It is time other false teachers write those same words…and that they return to TRUTH again.
The link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-UPyQvdYDU
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