The name Jezebel is spelled in Hebrew as “LYZEBEL” and it means “Baal exalts, un-husbanded one, without cohabitation and unchaste.” This spirit hates authority, despises correction, hates being subjected to authority and loves attention.
Some today attempt to use the following passage to justify women being elders, overseers in the body of Christ.
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:” Acts 2:17-18
Notice women can prophesy, and proclaim the Gospel and yet are not called to preach to men.
This passage above in Acts 2 in no way negates the clear declaration of the LORD that only men can be elders in His body. Yes, like the woman at the well, women can preach the Gospel and do many other ministries which we see them doing in the New Testament canon. Yet, in the case of eldership, being an overseer to His body, one of the qualifications is that such a person must be “the HUSBAND of one wife” which no woman could possibly be (1 Timothy 3:2).
So does God pour out His Holy Spirit on women in order to get them to do something He forbid them to do – to assume a place of leadership over men in the church (or home)? No.
Jezebel is alive and well and on her way to hell!
“What about Deborah?!”
“Using Deborah to justify jezebel is rebellion.
Pure and simple.
I’ve made posts in the past debunking the mantle/template of Deborah for women in the New Testament.
She was an Old Testament exception and not the New Testament standard!
And all the women in the New Testament never took authority positions in the church.
Faulty translations have lead many to believe these lies.
It’s always been PATRIARCHY and by extension POLYGYNY for God’s hierarchy and divine design ” Vincent Roccagli
So many ungrounded people are functioning on pure human reasoning and rejection of the clear Word of God. This reveals that there is no cross in their daily lives which Jesus says is essential to following Him (Luke 9:23-24). The LORD foretold of the great falling away and women preachers are part of that (2 Thessalonians 2; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:1-7, etc.).
Please explain why you claim God changed, or why He didn’t mean what He stated here:
“Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” 1 Timothy 2:11-12
Has God changed or are you deceived? It has to be one or the other and it’s obvious that you are deceived. This is part of the reason women are not ordained by God to lead the general body of Christ. As was the case with Eve, they are easily deceived as the “weaker vessel” (1 Peter 3:1-7). Any person who believes women can be preachers or elders in Christ’s body is not a student of Scripture and is not a broken, humble, crucified disciple.
The fact that the LORD fills someone with His Spirit in this last hour is to testify of Christ and His saving grace but never to act outside of His stated roles for men and women. This is why she can stare the Word of God in the face and reject it (Mark 7:6-10; John 8:47; Proverbs 13:13).
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:33
—- There are NO female apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers under the New Testament (Ephesians 4:8, 11-12). Jesus gave these “gifts unto MEN” (Ephesians 4:8). There is not even one women mentioned in 27 books as an elder over Christ’s flock. Such is clearly forbidden (1 Timothy 2:11-12). In Acts 21:9 we read of Phillip’s daughters which “did prophesy” which is a gift of the Spirit (one of the nine-1 Corinthians 12:7-10). The office gifts are eldership functions for men called to be overseers over Christ’s flock, which is completely different than the gifts of the Spirit which every believer can function in and certainly women are seen doing such as Phillip’s daughters and how women are mentioned concerning operating in the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 14.
“Jezebel is a widely rampant spirit of rebellion that is hard to get rid of, rooted in pride, self-will, and self-sufficiency. Only the LORD can deliver but only if the individual truly repents and submits to Him, to His Word.” Anita Villarreal
MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“God has used women since forever. Deborah was one of the judges in Isreal. A strong leader full of courage. The woman at the well after Jesus spoke to her ran and evangelized and told everyone of what Christ knew and did for her. The first to witness Jesus’ resurrection were women and they witnessed to the men. Lydia was one of the first believers among the Europeans and became a witness in her region.God has used many women..(Esther, Ruth, Hannah, Mary, Priscilla..etc) God can use men and women. All he needs is a willing heart, fully surrendered and that loves God with all their heart, soul and strength. Lets humble ourselves and let God use whom he pleases and ask for conviction from the Holy Spirit to open our eyes. Lett us not let this divide Christ’s body but let us seek for the truth through the word and Holy Spirit.” Evelyn
REPLY:
Lame defense Evelyn. This is human reasoning while you reject Scripture that expressly forbids women from being elders in the body of Christ. You are living by your emotions and not the truth and this is exactly why God forbids women from being elders in His body. God has used woman since the beginning, no doubt and yet, not to be elders among His people. God’s Word debunks your misuse of Scripture. The question at hand, being specifically discussed, is whether or not a woman can preach to men or be an elder. No. God specifically forbids women from being an elder in the body of Christ or preaching to men. 1 Timothy 2:11-12; 3:2. No woman can possibly be “the HUSBAND of one wife” which means all women are disqualified from being an elder in the body of Christ (1 Timothy 3:2). Case closed. Repent now. Notice how Evelyn conveniently forgets to mention that of the 12 apostles of Jesus, they are all men. Not 1 woman. Notice how the New Testament Scriptures show not even one woman acting as an elder in Christ’s body other than when Jesus sternly rebuked the church at Thyatira for allowing a woman to act as an elder (Revelation 2:20-24).
Recently I watched a short video of a jezebel who was twisting Scripture to seek to justify women being in the place of an elder in the body of Christ and preaching to men – both specifically and non-negotiably forbidden by God (1 Timothy 2:11-12; Revelation 2:20-24).
The counterfeits who push the idea, the jezebel doctrine that women can teach and preside over men are absolutely false and it’s astounding what lengths they will go to in order to twist the plain and clear reading of Holy Scripture. Manipulating the Greek to get the desired result is an age old trick of wolves.
It was very obvious to notice how this jezebel, this liar has demons. The dilation of her eyes and her facial expressions were clues (Hebrews 5:14). Her unnatural facial contortions made it obvious that she sought to manipulate her audience to buy that lie instead of simply speaking the truth of God in peace (James 3:18). She and the demons in her are seeking to manipulate the women listening to her, to convince them of this lie.
Beware saints.
MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“I mean God created Men & Women to be equal partners and to always respect each other not to be sexist. It seems like you might have a problem with women in authority Todd, you should probably pray about that. Also there were women in the Bible that preached.”
REPLY:
No such thing as a woman pastor. “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” 1 Timothy 2:11-12
The elder in Christ’s body must be “the HUSBAND of one wife” which no woman could possibly be (1 Timothy 3:2).
God created the male and the female to fulfill specific roles and defined them in His Word. There is no female elder in the church anywhere in the NT. The men of Thyatira were rebuked for allowing a self-proclaimed “prophetess” named Jezebel to function outside the role of a woman in the church setting. Rev 2:20-24 ….. you must go deeper on the topic for yourself in God’s Word and cease following false teachers. Do you have a problem with male leadership? …. being biblical doesn’t mean someone has a problem with authority… it proves they are following God’s authority which is His written Word and not false teachers.
Also, I just caught this that you said: “Was it not Paul himself who said that not “God”? Wow. Friend, God is calling you to repent and walk in the light of His truth before it’s too late. You presently possess soul damning heresies. The Word of God was given to us by the Holy Spirit via the human writers, “holy men of God” …. it’s all GOD’s Word…. it is astounding the lengths counterfeits will go to in order to manipulate God’s Word in order to carry out their own rebellion.
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:19-21
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
DID JESUS address Jezebel and the lame men who allowed her to function in the church? YES He did! (Revelation 2:20-24) It’s time to become enlightened and biblical!
Again…. “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” 1 Timothy 2:12
You know you are dealing with a counterfeit when they can read these CLEAR as crystal words and not repent. Have you no fear of God and are unrepentant. The authentic disciple of Jesus will always humble themselves and repent and be corrected by the Word of God – and that’s why He gave it to us (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
To a woman who was engaging a man in a Bible debate, I privately sent the following message:
“Even when you may be Scripturally correct, it doesn’t seem appropriate for a woman to be correcting a man. This is out of God’s order and something we never once see happening in the New Testament church, canon – where a woman corrects a man. That is God’s place which takes the responsibility off of the woman, and should be a relief. Read 1 Timothy 2:11-12 afresh. For now I am going to delete that conversation due to it being out of order. No offense taken here. Just wanting to make sure we, as God’s people, operate according to His stated order. Let’s let the men correct the men, just as we see in Scripture. The only instance we have of a woman exercising authority over men in the Bible, is with Jezebel in Thyatira. And such only happened when weak moral coward men allowed such, which is the focus of Jesus’ rebuke in the church of Thyatira (Revelation 2:20-24).”
Of this topic of whether or not a woman can be an elder in the body of Christ, one dear sister writes:
“Paul is forbidding women from filling the office and role of the pastor or teacher. He is not prohibiting them from teaching in other appropriate conditions and circumstances (Acts 18:26; Titus 2:3-4). ‘Usurp authority’: Paul forbids women from exercising any type of authority over men in the church assembly, since the elders are those who rule (5:17). They are all to be men (as is clear from the requirements in 3:2, 5). The prohibition against women teaching in the church is qualified (by Titus 2:4), which allows them to instruct other women (and probably children also). Based on Gods’ Word, I also believe Woman should NOT become pastors. Nothing wrong with speaking Gods; Word on Social Media to plant seeds to the lost.” Yvonne
Do you know who Ahab was? He was Jezebel’s husband. She controlled him (1 Kings 21:25; 2 Kings 9:22). Jesus primarily condemned the weak moral coward Ahabs (men) in the church at Thyatira for allowing Jezebel to function. Are you getting familiar with Revelation 2:20-24? If not, you will not see the full severity of allowing any woman to function outside of her divinely ordained order. Elders in Christ’s body are men, only men, never a woman (1 Timothy 2:11-12; 3:2). This is God’s non-negotiable order and it’s for her protection and the protection of those who would be victimized by a woman in an eldership position.
ANY person who puts their own supposed, self-appointed calling before the truth of God (written Word) and body of Christ is completely self-serving and has no concern for the LORD or His body whatsoever. In fact, such a person is completely departed from the LORD and will bring great destruction on the body of Christ if allowed – if suffered. This is exactly what Jesus addresses in Thyatira and calls it “the depths of SATAN” himself (Revelation 2:20-24) In their self-deceived hearts, they are sure that God has called them to minister in a way He clearly forbids – just like the Jezebel who was allowed by the Ahabs in Thyatira who was self-appointed – “calleth HERSELF a prophetesss” (Revelation 2:20-24.) Repent now.
JEZEBELs will not be tolerated. Truly God-fearing women, authentic virtuous daughters of the LORD, rejoice in the truth and find protection in adhering to the LORD’s order/Word. Numerous Jezebels attack and are dealt with decisively. They are manifesting their demons at the preaching of the Word of God. Having a respectful dialogue is one thing, seeking to correct and dishonor any man is absolute evidence that you are a rebel, a godless Jezebel! Even if the man is wrong, cease seeking to correct and argue doctrine with a man. That is not your place. 1 Timothy 2:9-15 – there is order in God’s creation! This nation is a Jezebel nation that has trained women in this rebellion from the ground up. There is order in the house of God and anyone not adhering to that order is a rebel! Repentance needed.
“God has order in the church, family, governments, etc. I’m perfectly happy being married, under my husband’s leadership, where God wants me to be. I used to have a really bad Jezebel spirit… and I’m beginning to realize slowly over time how much hell and destruction I caused in my marriage… and even though I was ignorant of what was going on… the damage was still done… and I was the guilty one! I started to recognize the JEZEBEL spirit in 2008 and that’s when I began my repentance and surrendering to God. He’s still cleaning me up! That spirit is HORRENDOUS and it’s taking a long time to fix things! But, praise God… all I can offer him is my broken past, my failures, and now… my worship! HE can restore my past and fix all the mistakes I made!“ A.
Women CAN share, pray, and prophesy (1 Cor 14) but not teach the body of Christ at large (which includes men). God has an order we must observe. – “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence” (1 Timothy 2:12). God fearing women know this to be HIS protection while Jezebels fume at this truth.
A WOMAN leading a church fellowship? Nope. A woman leading her household? Nope. Jezebel Exposed!
ANY woman who still believes she is to lead men is an unrepentant rebel Jezebel! Repent. There is NO excuse for this vile depravity. There will be no Jezebel in Heaven (1 Timothy 2:11-12; 3:2; Revelation 2:20-24).
“THROW HER DOWN”
At the end of her destructive miserable life, Jezebel was thrown down to her death from a high place, and eaten by dogs.
2 Kings 9
33 And he said, THROW HER DOWN. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot. 34 And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king’s daughter. 35 And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. 36 Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: 37 And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.
This is a clear divine statement. God had this witch thrown down eaten by dogs. All who die in the sin of rebellion which perverts the ordained will for the roles of male and female, will be thrown down into hell and eaten by the dogs of hell.
How many of Jesus’ 12 apostles were female? – ZERO.
IF you refuse to repent and observe God’s stated order of His creation – you prove to be an unsaved rebel (John 8:47; 1 Timothy 2:9-15, etc.).
“WHAT ABOUT JUNIA?” is a common question of jezebel women operating outside the stated order of the LORD. They are grasping for straws while intentionally ignoring clear Scripture truth.
Jezebels, desperate to prove their legitimacy to be elders, foolishly attempt to make Junia out to be a woman. Watch this:
“Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsMEN, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.” Romans 16:7
Paul says that Andronicus and Junia, my kinsMEN. Also, if Junia was one of the “fellowprisoners” of Paul, he was in that male prison section with Paul. Case closed.
So their whole argument rides upon the “a”, the fact that Junia’s name ends with an “a.” Joshua’s name ends with an “a”, does that now make him a woman? Yet they blatantly ignore the fact that God says one of the qualifications for being an elder in the body of Christ is that one must be “the HUSBAND of one wife” which only a man could possibly be (1 Timothy 3:2).
Each individual is known by how they honor or dishonor God’s Word.
“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Mark 7:6-9
Are women to correct men? Is that aligned with what God told us concerning His creative order? No. Keeping the divinely stated order is for the safety of all (Revelation 2:20-24).
God ordains that women are to be protected under the servant leadership of men. If a woman is allowed to assume the place ordained only for men, great judgment, death and destruction will come on that church (Revelation 2:20-24).
Women are not to teach, nor to usurp authority over men, nor argue doctrine with men. We see not one example of such in the New Testament. Such is explicitly forbidden (1 Timothy 2:11-12; 1 Corinthians 14:34, etc.).
“Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.” 1 Corinthians 14:34
“But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” 1 Timothy 2:12
WHEN a woman attacks a man or seeks to rule over him or manipulate him, she further proves she is a Jezebel, a hell bound rebel, a lost soul.
“Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” 1 Timothy 2:11-12
Excuse me, the ALMIGHTY didn’t ask for your no-count opinion when He gave us HIS WORD! Time to shut up, lay down your life, deny yourself, take up the cross and truly follow Jesus before it’s too late! No moral coward whiners in Heaven! Revelation 21:8
PASTORS AND THEIR WIVES ARE OFTEN HEARD LAUGHING WHILE SAYING – You know the old demonic fable where a Jezebel wife says: “My husband may be the head but I’m the neck that turns the head!” Pure jezebellian witchcraft! God forbid that we ever laugh at such iniquity again! Those who understand, choose to agree with, and enact the order of God in creation, will see this for what it is – Jezebellian witchcraft!
DEAR godly woman-You are completely, divinely separated from this jezebel generation!
There will be no Jezebel in Heaven, not one!
JEZEBELS love little male pansies who let those witches walk over them! Not here! Repent Ahab!
GOD’s men must never allow women to lead where men are called to lead (1 Timothy 2:12; 3:2; Revelation 2:20-24).
The men at the church at Thyatira consented to a woman operating in an eldership position in the church/among His people. Untold horror resulted (Revelation 2:20-24). Jesus warns us!
There is ORDER in the true house of God – and chaos in that which falsely claims to be His house, His people!
“Let all things be done decently and in ORDER.” 1 Corinthians 14:40
“For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest SET IN ORDER the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:” Titus 1:5
Blessing is found where there is ORDER! “ORDER” appears 61 times in God’s Word. Doing things “in order” or in an orderly way simply means we do them GOD’s stated way!
JUST because a woman can run her mouth and even genuinely have a gift of the Spirit DOES NOT mean she’s an elder in the body of Christ – which is divinely reserved non-negotiably for men, male elders (1 Timothy 2:11-12; 3:2).
Suppression? No, PROTECTION (Revelation 2:20-24).
Men and women are equal in significance before God and yet He gave male and female unique roles as it pleases Him.
Also, beware of those who get upset about this heated discussion and cop-out, claiming it’s not biblical to argue about this. They are dead wrong. If God has spoken clearly on this topic or any other, that is the WORD we are to allow to dwell richly among us (Colossians 3:16).
No one reading these words is going to stand before a mere man to be judged. YET each of us WILL stand before our Maker who is the Judge of our eternal souls. What saith the Scriptures?
IF GOD specifically spoke on this matter, and He certainly did, why is there division other than that there are those here who believe God at HIS Word and those who don’t, period. Those who don’t study and believe God’s Word are “NOT of God.” Memorize John 8:47 …. The sword of truth divides between Christ’s true disciples and the counterfeits among us.
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34
“Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.” Proverbs 13:13
Jesus and His apostles didn’t teach that women were lower than men. They simply taught the divinely given ROLES of men and women – in the body of Christ and in the family (1 Timothy 2:9-14; 1 Peter 3:1-7; Titus 2:1-5; Revelation 2:20-24, etc.).
To say that men and women are the same, that God had no specific, creative reason to make them complimentary to each other, is to call the Almighty a fool. Jezebel be gone.
To put yourself under the ministry of a woman who is acting as an elder among God’s people, is to defy Christ, and to agree with Christ’s arch enemy and his jezebels and to bring severe destruction on the people of God (1 Timothy 2:12; 3:2; Revelation 2:20-24).
SAINTS, beware of those who attempt to change God’s Word to fit their own false doctrines and desires (Mark 7:6-10; 2 Timothy 4:2-4). Here’s a perfect example …… Regrettably, there are females who insist they are called by God to lead men. This is complete heresy and the subversive spirit of antichrist at work. Unthinkably, these rebels seek to ignorantly and arrogantly say the LORD missed it in translation in the King James Bible. This would be laughable if it were not so pitiful.
“Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” 1 Timothy 2:11-12
The LORD’s stated order is the place of His protection.
To a Jezebel who is calling herself “pastor” the following message was delivered:
No such thing as a woman pastor. Repent. An elder in the body of Christ MUST be “the HUSBAND of one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2). No woman can be a “husband” and therefore all women are disqualified from being elders among God’s people.
One lady asked:
“When men are puny in leadership–then what?”
REPLY:
The supposed inaction of men and perhaps that’s due to their discernment of Jezebel in these false churches, in no way changes God or His Word.
That still never justifies the additional sin of women taking up the place of the man in leadership over the body of Christ. The LORD is clear (1 Timothy 2:11-12). Two wrongs don’t make a right.
To the rebel, it’s all about THEM and not Christ and the protection of His body. It’s all about what THEY THINK AND SAY and not about what Jesus clearly stated in His final authority – His divine Word. In Revelation 2:20-24, Jesus solemnly warned us of the destruction that comes when a Jezebel is allowed to function outside of the order God ordained for women. He specifically blames the men who were supposed to stop such!
“…to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.” Revelation 2:20-21
QUESTION ASKED:
“But can’t the Jezebel spirit take hold on man, child or woman all the same? It doesn’t just take hold on women, correct?”
REPLY:
Well those characteristics can be seen in both sexes. The Jezebel of the OT and NT were women (1 Kings, Revelation 2:20-24). Usually, it’s a woman and that’s due to the corruption of roles, where a woman is allowed by unrepentant men to lead (Revelation 2:20-24).
The Lydia Question
MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“What about Lydia?! The Thessalonian church was started in her house. Paul directly wrote to her. I guess I should not speak about thing because I’m just a dumb woman whose only use is to suffer the sins of eve in childbirth.”
REPLY:
WHO said you were “a dumb woman”? Sounds like a smokescreen. WHAT does Scripture plainly state? Lydia was hospitable, amen. That doesn’t make her an elder or pastor. She merely facilitated the men of God who were the elders. You are not a dumb woman. No one insinuated such except yourself. We are peering into what GOD says is the role of a man and a woman in the family and in His church (among His people). And a woman is to be protected by the men of God around her by not allowing her to lead, which brings great destruction (Revelation 2:20-24).
Lydia was a servant of the LORD, not an elder over Christ’s body, which would be contradictory to the message of Scripture concerning the roles of men and women. Lydia is mentioned twice in the New Testament and there’s no indication of her doing anything except what’s most important and that’s serving in the way God’s ordained she do as a woman.
Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
Acts 16:40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
This is how the Jezebels out there try to misuse Scripture to manipulate and deceive the unlearned. It would take a huge amount of reading into what the text says to conclude that Lydia was an elder in Christ’s body.
Feminism is Simply Jezebel
Feminists are simply rebels, following the steps of Jezebel and are miserable, self-centered, self-serving people, without exception. They are wounded and taking their anger out on God and men instead of examining their own hearts and repenting. Jezebel is equivalent to Judas who betrayed the Son of God. Women are to be virtuous help mates/wives to their husbands and “keepers at home,” and bear children, and teach the younger WOMEN and not the men …, etc. This is the explicit command and order of our Maker whom we shall all stand before to give full account. See Titus 2:1-5 and 1 Timothy 2:9-15 and 1 Peter 3:1-7. Truly God fearing women are the only truly happy women on the earth and fulfilling what the LORD created them to do. They humbly follow His order. Judgment day is on the way.
The Galatians 3:28 Question
Jezebels attempt to use Galatians 3:28 to justify this rebellion. Let’s take a look.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28
We are “all one” in equality and in justification and yet God created males and females with different roles. Men and women do not have the same roles. Nature reveals that. God made men and women to fulfill unique roles in the family and the church.
Any beginner student of the Bible, God’s Word, knows that Galatians 3:28 is not dealing with the roles … it’s simply speaking of justification and does nothing to negate the divinely stated purposes and duties for the unique, complimentary ROLES of men and women.
Equality in God’s justification in Christ is what Galatians 3:28 is speaking of, NOT the specific roles our Maker designated for men and women – in the FAMILY and in the CHURCH … “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
Galatians 3:28 is not dealing with the roles … it’s simply speaking of justification and does nothing to negate the divinely stated purposes and duties for the unique, complimentary ROLES of men and women.
YOU KNOW WHEN A WOMAN IS REBELLIOUS IN HEART AND THEREFORE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE DEVIL WHEN SHE’S LOOKING FOR REASONS AND SCRIPTURE TO “PROVE” SHE CAN BE AN ELDER IN CHRIST’S BODY.
“Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” 1 Timothy 2:11-12
A prequalification for eldership in Christ’s body is “HUSBAND of one wife” which no woman could possibly be (1 Timothy 3:2).
THE FALL OF MANKIND OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE MAN ALLOWING THE WOMAN TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN GOD. THIS IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF GOD’S NON-NEGOTIABLE ORDER. AS WE SEE IN THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA, WHEN MEN ALLOW WOMEN TO LEAD THERE WILL BE CHAOS EVERY TIME.
BEWARE OF TODAY’S AHABS
A woman preaching to men?
No.
Women sharing, communicating God’s Word among the brethren in fellowship? Yes, but never arguing, preaching to, or taking the position of authority as an elder which is reserved exclusively for men (1 Timothy 2:12; 3:2). Observing the severe threat of Jesus when He spoke to the MEN at Thyatira tells us much about the Ahabish MEN today who are telling women to preach (Revelation 2:20-24).
MESSAGE AND REPLY from an Ahab WHO WAS ATTEMPTING TO JUSTIFY JEZEBELS. He writes:
“How about Phoebe which was a prophetess. Preacher. You are in a very destructive misleading Religion. Get away while you can. You do not need to tie gods hands and misquote scripture according to your wishes.”
MY REPLY:
You quoted not one Bible verse and the one you reference you completely lied about. God “tied” His own hands from Genesis to Revelation and you regrettably have no clue as to what He stated and therefore have no business speaking on it. The LORD says you are a fool (Proverbs 18:13).
Phebe’s name appears 2 times in the New Testament:
Rom. 16:1: I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
Rom. 16:27: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.
I’m sorry, can you show me where the Bible says Phebe was anything but a “servant”?
Before blocking this Ahab, I sent him this: Dennis, you can’t even capitalize the “G” of God’s Name. Wow.
You are the exact moral coward, pansy Jesus addresses and blames in Rev. 2:20-24. Repent sinner and when you do, Christ will give you a backbone. Hell awaits the “fearful”(cowardly) Ahabs (Rev. 21:8).
Since when is it legalistic or wrong to stand on God’s Word? I am a part of no religious group. Can you tell me why this doesn’t mean what it says? “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence” (1 Timothy 2:11-12).
What was Jesus’ message to the church at Thyatira? Did the church at Thyatira have their house in order? Were they operating in God’s order? If not, what was the sin of those men (in particular)? Please read Revelation 2:20-24
Men and women are equivalent in salvation – neither male nor female – and yet, God designed men and women with different and unique ROLES. Women are not to lead men – the church, period. We must obey God’s order – do things HIS way and not our own. If we don’t, we will unleash hell’s Jezebellian fury on the church as we see in the church at Thyatira where “the depths of Satan” is associated with this allowance of Jezebel to function (Revelation 2:20-24).
No such thing as a woman elder in the New Testament church. Read 1 Timothy 2:11-12.
Women are seen doing much ministry in the New Testament but not leading. Did Jesus choose even one female as His twelve? No. God gave us specific instructions concerning the role of men and women. His Word is final authority.
The problem is not abusive men or controlling women – the source of our problems is rooted in our own sin and refusal to die to self, deny self, take up the cross and follow Christ as He clearly and repeatedly prescribed. When we do we will gladly follow the divine order given to us by God in His blessed Word.
EQUALITY in salvation, not ROLES (Gal. 3:28). Has anyone ever pointed you to what Jesus warned us about in Rev. 2:20-24? Do you know what the Son of God calls “the depths of Satan”? Allowing women to function outside the role God ordained her to function in is rebellion, brings great destruction, and is the very “depths of Satan” himself.
Anyone violating God’s order will be judged and this is precisely why He judged Thyatira (Revelation 2:20-24). Of Jezebel and all who allow, enable, and participate in such perversion of the roles of men and women, Jesus says He is going to “kill her children with death” (Revelation 2:20-24). Anybody want to argue with the Son of God?
The kingdom of God is not about high and mighty you or me but rather the King of kings. Repent.
NAME one feminist who smiles. Feminism=jezebellian rebellion against God!
This is NOT at all a matter of EQUALITY but rather a matter of roles … God is no fool – He didn’t make men and women for the same purposes … Have you noticed that men and women are different? Think there was a reason for this? WHY O WHY then would He have bothered to create that first beautiful lady if there were not a specific, unique purpose in His plan for her to fulfill? And what does God’s Word tell us about the woman’s purpose? Is it to rise up and be in control, to be boisterous, yelling at the enemy, wearing armor and fighting? Is she a man or the “weaker vessel” to be submitted to God and therefore His order which is Christ as the Head over the man and the man as head over the woman? (to protect her) 1 Peter 3:7
“But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” 1 Corinthians 11:3
You cannot possibly know the will of God until you know the WORD of God – because the Word of God is the will of God.
“The Bible forbids a woman to teach, but what if she is on social media and is a believer, who posts instructional posts? I have learned a lot from a couple of women who have done this. Does that fall under the category of women teaching men? Thanks Todd.”
REPLY:
Good morning brother….. Like yourself brother, I’ve learned so very much from Jesus through His daughters. Yes the governing truth conveyed in Scripture is divine protection. From reading 1 Timothy 2:11-12, it seems to be that a woman is not to stand up in an authority posture to rule over men in the local assembling of believers (Revelation 2:20-24). So for a woman to put out Scriptural truth is perfectly fine according to God’s order. Colossians 3:16 is of interest here…. “you” is plural – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you (plural) richly…” So, if two or more of Jesus’ people are gathered around, talking, the sisters are to share alike, never usurping authority over the men, keeping the divine order of roles, yet enjoying fellowship together (1 Timothy 2:9-15). Governing truths are important here. Brothers and sisters/Christ’s men and women were present, gathered together in fellowship, in the upper room to receive the promise of the Father, the baptism with the Holy Ghost: “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” (Acts 1:14). God’s order is to be observed by His people and is set forth for the protection of His people. In 1 Corinthians 14, we see beloved sisters in Christ spoken of as prophesying and praying in the assemblies. Praying and prophesying yes – but that Scripture, by divine design, did not include preaching to men in the body at large. God had all the opportunity in His divine Word and economy to include preaching right there in 1 Corinthians 14….. and didn’t because that would contradict His own Word. His order is for His protection and without it, we will see the severe damage that Jesus addresses in the church at Thyatira (Revelation 2:20-24).
“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they […]
Jezebel Unmasked! Invasion of the Warrior Princess Jezebels [podcast]
WARRIOR PRINCESS Delusion Exposed …. This is taking many by storm …. it’s completely opposite of God’s design for His most beautiful creature …. the woman …. compare what Scripture says to this masculinized woman who needs no one but God supposedly …. it’s rebellion that underlies this whole campaign … God made men and women to be together, not separate and this means that there is an inherent need between the man and woman ….. and the woman is the feminine gender and the man is the masculine … see Gen. 1-2; Eccl 4:9-12; 1 Timothy 2:9-15; Titus […]
The Roles of Men and Women are Intentionally Unique and Complimentary [podcast]
WE LIVE IN A ROLE CORRUPTED SOCIETY – YET WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE HOLY AND DIFFERENT If God is going to be glorified in a marriage, both parties MUST come to serve – in the specific God-ordained, stated roles of the husband and wife. Study them. Bow and worship the Almighty to whom we shall each and all give full account of our lives (Romans 14:10; Hebrews 9:27, etc.). Fresh repentance. God’s not going to judge the man for doing the role of the woman but rather for the role of the man. And God is not going […]
DOES THE BIBLE SAY TO PRAY FOR FALSE TEACHERS? The Answer May Surprise You.
DOES THE BIBLE SAY TO PRAY FOR OR DOES IT MANDATE THAT WE EXPOSE FALSE TEACHERS?
No, it’s not a sin to pray for the deceived. Yet, isn’t it time we obeying the command of God and stopped giving aid and comfort to the enemies of the LORD and cease caring for them more than the many they are deceiving?
A DIVINE COMMAND: “Now I beseech you, brethren, MARK THEM which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18
Wolf worshippers are first and foremost self-worshipping counterfeits who could care less how many souls their celebrity wolf is leading to hell. All they care about is the sensual thrill they feel in worshipping their demon-possessed false prophet who tells them what they like to hear!
NEVER apologize for exposing false teachings and false teachers. You do such in obedience to the LORD and it results in the protection of the Great Shepherd’s sheep for whom He died (Matthew 10; Hebrews 13:20).
Did Jesus or His apostles ever pray for a wolf? No.
To the false leaders of his day, Jesus says this:
“Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers (snakes), how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” Matthew 23:33
Do nothing to “bid God speed” to the enemies of the LORD lest you be judged with those enemies of God (2 John 10-11). Bidding God speed means to condone, to support, or in any way to further the cause of the enemies of God, namely human agents who are teaching contrary to the Scripture.
So he’s not calling out the wolves and you still sit under that devil? You want to go to hell with him? (2 John 10-11) Repent and run now! (Matthew 7:15; 24:11; Romans 16:17-18; Jude 3, etc.)
Of the false teachers at Galatia, Paul says he wishes they, the false prophets, were “cut off.” Make not mistake, this is violent language.
“I would they were even cut off which trouble you.” Galatians 5:12
To “cut off” means to castrate, to mutilate, to amputate and so Paul is either saying that his God fearing desire is for false teachers to be castrated or taken out completely. There’s no getting around this appropriately violent language. It’s fitting for this situation because the eternal souls of men, the sheep of Christ’s pasture are at stake.
Many self-deceived people today have more compassion for Satan’s hell bound false leaders than they do for the beloved sheep who are being being misled by those wolves in sheep’s clothing! Repent now.
Beware of misplaced compassion. Compassion without discernment, compassion while ignorant, is dangerous.
The the false prophet Elymas, the apostle says:
“And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” Acts 13:10
Can anyone find in this Acts 13 text where Christ’s apostle Paul pray for this Elymas, this named false prophet? I’m sorry, perhaps I missed something here.
There seems to be no end to the novices, perhaps well meaning, who argue out of their own ignorance to defend wolves who are devouring Jesus’ sheep. They come off as if they are highly superior in approaching, dealing with wolves with “love” and accuse those who expose as not doing so. Let’s take a look at who’s walking in true love, and who isn’t.
“Open rebuke is better than secret (hidden, concealed) love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Proverbs 27:5-6
Hebrew word for “secret” …..
סָתַר
sâthar
saw-thar’
A primitive root; to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively: – be absent, keep close, conceal, hide (self), (keep) secret, X surely.
As you will see below, it seems accurate to observe that we’ve never seen “love” like the love of prey for the wolf that’s tickled their ears and told them what their unrepentant hearts wish to hear (Isaiah 30:9-10; 2 Timothy 4:2-4).
Most wolf protecting enemies of Christ simply don’t know and don’t want to know what God says about this topic. They are under the control of Satan himself, covering for his agents and will be judged with them (2 John 10-11). God doesn’t like cowards (1 Corinthians 16:13; Revelation 21:8). The “fearful” are the first class listed as going to the lake of fire.
Those who defend Jesus’ enemy’s will be judged, damned with them (2 Pet 2:1-3; 2 Jn 10-11).
TYPICAL DEFENSE OF A WOLF BY HIS PREY:
“But wait, he’s led many thousands to the Lord!”
REPLY:
Jesus saves all by Himself, even using wolves at times. That is a front, intentionally taught to you by the wolf to cover, to keep himself from being detected, like sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15). After witnessing the “ministry” of this false teacher for years, I highly doubt most of those people truly were saved. He doesn’t even speak of the chasm their sin has caused so how can they truly be convicted and repent? They can’t in most cases. Luke 13:3…. If God truly did save some of them, it was in spite of White, not because of him.
MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“I do applaud your zeal for truth! I personally just think it is wise exercising prudence about knowing the hearts of men or women, only God knows. He will separate the wheat from the chaff.”
REPLY:
Jesus commanded us to “KNOW (Gr. discern) by their fruits” and told us that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 15-16, 20; 12:34) ALL men are known by the fruit of what they teach – either sound or false doctrine (Titus 2:1). Why would the Son of God told us to “KNOW” people by the fruit of their lives if He didn’t want us to discern, to “Judge righteous judgment”? (John 7:24)
God knows all men’s hearts yes and yet GOD commanded us to know people also. How? Jesus says to “know (discern) them BY THEIR FRUITS” and thereby we know that anyone teaching “another gospel” is “accursed” and is the very enemy of Christ and to be “earnestly” contended against and marked, scoped out and identified – so as to protect the body of Christ (Matthew 7:16, 20; Romans 16:17-18; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Peter 2:1-3; Jude 3-4).
HOW DID JESUS tell us to know/discern others? The FRUIT of their lives (Matt 7:16,20) THE FACT that JESUS told us to “know” (discern) people means He wants us to do so! (Matt 7:16,20) Same chapter as “judge not” v1-5 When Jesus taught us to “judge not” He is speaking in that context of hypocritical judgment and wrongly assigned condemnation. The JUDGE has spoken in a book called THE BIBLE. He’s calling us to pay attention when we read it. His written WORD records for us HIS judgments – the judgments of the Judge. So when a man preaches the Word, he is preaching GOD’s judgments, warnings, and not his own.
MESSAGE TO ME FROM A MAN ATTEMPTING TO CURTAIL THE MARKING OF A KNOWN WOLF:
“Dear Lord Jesus Please show Todd White your Holy Truth. May Todd White find peace and assurance in your wisdom and may he become a light upon a hill guiding others to Christ. Help him to leave behind his old self and ignite in him a desire to unashamedly make known Your Truth and disown and depart from the untruths he has held onto. In Jesus Mighty name we ask, Amen. Matthew chapter 5 verse 44’ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
REPLY:
Can you give chapters and verses where Jesus or His holy apostles specifically prayed for a wolf? Ever read Matthew 23?
Interesting that you seem to hate all those precious many souls Todd White is misleading. Interesting. Why don’t all those precious souls matter to you? If you aren’t defending Todd White, why do you seem to care more for him than those many people he’s misleading?
How intense was Jesus’ apostle Paul about protecting Christ’s flock?
“For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” Acts 20:27-31
In Matthew 5:38-45 Christ is speaking of not retaliating against OUR enemies. Jesus is speaking of how we are to react to OUR ENEMIES, not HIS enemies in Matt 5:44. HIS enemies in specific are those who are misleading HIS people, the sheep for which HE bled to save on that cross. You are misguided and taking Scripture out of context. What did He mandate that His disciple do?
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 3-4
GOD TOLD YOU TO “MARK THEM” – WOLVES – AND NOT DEFEND THEM! (ROMANS 16:17-18) YOU GOING TO OBEY GOD OR REBEL?
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18
Todd White is being marked, scoped out (Gr. skopeo) and named, identified as an enemy of Christ, a wolf in sheep’s clothing (Matt 7:15) so His people can be aware and escape being deceived…. no different than warning your children not to go near the street. Danger.
MESSAGE FROM WOLF JUSTIFIER:
“I believe we can still learn from (false) preachers and pastors biblical teaching, but we must test the spirits. Bring what is taught back to the word. Paul Washer, MacArthur, Spurgeon all preachers. Even today’s motivational speakers. I use what the Holy Spirit blessed me with, discernment, knowledge, wisdom.”
REPLY:
Good morning. Yes and yet, the LORD mandates that we separate ourselves from His enemies who pose as His ministers yet Paul says they are actually the ministers of Satan (2 Cor 11:12-15). Jude 3; Rom 16:17-18 …. we know all men, beginning with ourselves by the fruit…. false doctrine is bad fruit which means the root and tree is cursed. Matt 7:15-21; 12:33
Mat 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
Paul Washer, MacArthur, Spurgeon are all calvinist heretics. Everything they say, teach is poisoned with this calvinistic system, a doctrine of devils.
The Holy Spirit blessed you with the Word and so why do you need to even listen to known false teachers? Why would you? (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21, etc.)
How would you feel if your own husband communed with a sworn enemy of yours? How does Jesus feel by what you’ve just said?
SETTING THE BIBLICAL RECORD STRAIGHT
Jesus commanded HIS people to “JUDGE righteous judgment” (John 7:24) And, He commanded us to know/discern others “BY THEIR FRUITS” and that’s exactly what we’re doing under the command of KING JESUS (Matthew 7:16, 20). Dare you interfere with HIS work and become His enemy? You are bidding Godspeed to evil doers, satan’s wolves in sheep’s clothing, and you will be judged with those enemies of Christ if you don’t repent (2 John 10-11).
Jesus and each of His apostles on record in the New Testament canon warned the flock of wolves who would devour! There is no instance where they prayed for an enemy of Christ, a wolf who was misleading the flock of God.
Here is the list of the 8 evil doers the great apostle was divinely inspired to justifiably identify by name in 2 Timothy – in order to protect God’s people:
1) Phygellus 1:15
2) Hermogenes 1:15
3) Hymenaeus 2:17
4) Philetus 2:17
5) Jannes 3:8
6) Jambres 3:8
7) Demas 4:10 (apostate)
8) Alexander the coppersmith 4:14
Read the book of 2 Timothy and underline these deceivers that the apostle was marking.
How to Pray Effectively for Your Friends and Family! [podcast]
Someone has wisely stated that “We are never more like Jesus than when we are praying for others.” Which of God’s people are on your prayer list? No greater way to serve another than to lift them up to the Father in the name of Jesus! “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:3-5 […]
"Warn them from Me": The 3 Things Paul did to Protect God's People [podcast]
The 3 Things Paul did to Protect God’s People [podcast] Jesus and His holy apostles often rebuked and exposed false leaders and false doctrine (Matthew 23; Acts 13:10; 20:29-31; Galatians 5:11-12; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; 2 Peter 2; 2 John 7-11; Revelation 2:6, 15, etc.). Therefore we know that part of following Jesus includes doing the same. In fact, the body of Christ is mandated to do just that (Romans 16:17-18; Philippians 1:17; Jude 3-4). PWT = Preach, WARN, Teach “Whom we PREACH, WARNING every man, and TEACHING every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in […]
SATAN'S SEMINARIANS [podcast]
Seminaries are the Invention of Satan WHEN Jesus declared “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16), …. was Jesus speaking here of men who “earned” and paid big money for a degree, a piece of paper from a “higher learning” institution of mere men? No. Read John 15:1-16 and you will see that Jesus alone can choose, call, prepare, and ordain a […]
Spiritual Formation—A Dangerous Substitute for the Life of Christ [podcast]
Sometimes we think of spiritual formation as formation by the Holy Spirit. Once again. That’s essential. . . . But now I have to say something that may be challenging for you to think about: Spiritual formation is not all by the Holy Spirit. . . . We have to recognize that spiritual formation in us is something that is also done to us by those around us, by ourselves, and by activities which we voluntarily undertake . . .There has to be method.1—Dallas Willard
Aside from the fact that Spiritual Formation incorporates mystical practices into its infrastructure (remove the contemplative aspect and you don’t have “Spiritual Formation” anymore), Spiritual Formation is a works-based substitute for biblical Christianity. Let us explain.
When one becomes born again (“that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9-10), having given his or her life and heart over to Christ as Savior, Jesus Christ says He will come in and live in that surrendered heart:
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1:27)
If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11; emphasis added)
When God, through Jesus Christ, is living in us, He begins to do a transforming work in our hearts (2 Corinthians 3:18). Not only does He change us, He also communes with us. In other words, we have fellowship with Him, and He promises never to leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
This life of God in the believer’s heart is not something we need to conjure up through meditative practices. But if a person does not have this relationship with the Lord, he may seek out ways to feel close to God. This is where Spiritual Formation comes into play. Rather than a surrendered life to Christ (through repentance and faith), the seeking person begins practicing the spiritual disciplines (e.g., prayer, fasting, good works, etc.) with the promise that if he practices these disciplines, he will become more Christ-like.
But merely doing these acts fails to make one feel close to God—something is still missing. And thus, he begins practicing the discipline of silence (or solitude), and now in these altered states of silence, he finally feels connected to God. He now feels complete. What he does not understand is that he has substituted the indwelling of Christ in his heart for a works-based methodology that endangers his spiritual life. Dangerous because these mystical experiences he now engages in appear to be good because they make him feel close to God, but in reality he is being drawn into demonic realms no different than what happens to someone who is practicing transcendental meditation or eastern meditation. Even mystics themselves acknowledge that the contemplative realm is no different than the realm reached by occultists. To understand this more fully, please read Ray Yungen’s book A Time of Departing.
Bottom line, it is not possible to be truly Christ-like without having Christ inside of us because it is His righteousness that is able to change our hearts—we cannot do it without Him. It is His righteousness we need:
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe. (Romans 3:22)
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. (Philippians 3:9)
It is interesting to note that virtually every contemplative teacher has a common theme—they feel dry and empty and want to go “deeper” with God or “become more intimate” with God. But if we have Christ living in us, how can we go any deeper than that? How can we become more intimate than that? And if going deeper and becoming intimate were so important, why is it that none of the disciples or Jesus Himself ever told us to do this? As Larry DeBruyn states:
Why are Christians seeking a divine presence that Jesus promised would abundantly flow in them? . . . Why do they need another voice, another visitation, or another vision? Why are some people unthankfully desirous of “something more” than what God has already given to us? Why is it that some Christians, in the depth of their souls, are not seemingly at rest?2
Is There a “Good” Spiritual Formation?
One of the most common arguments we hear defending Spiritual Formation is that there is a “good” Spiritual Formation done without contemplative prayer. To that we say, we have never yet seen a Spiritual Formation program in a school or a church that doesn’t in some way point people to the contemplative mystics. It might be indirectly, but in every case, if you follow the trail, it will lead you right into the arms of Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, and other contemplative teachers.
Think about this common scenario: A Christian college decides to begin a Spiritual Formation course. The instructor has heard some negative things about Richard Foster, Henri Nouwen, and Brennan Manning, and he figures he will teach the class “good Spiritual Formation” and leave those teachers completely out. But he’s going to need a textbook. He turns to a respected institution, Dallas Theological Seminary, and finds a book written by Paul Pettit, Professor in Pastoral and Education Ministries. The book is titled Foundations of Spiritual Formation. The instructor who has found this book to use in his own class may never mention Richard Foster or Dallas Willard, but the textbook he is using does. Within the pages of Pettit’s book is Richard Foster, Philip Yancey, N.T. Wright, Dallas Willard, Thomas Aquinas, Lectio Divina, Ayn Rand, Parker Palmer, Eugene Peterson, J.P. Moreland, Klaus Issler, Bruce Demarerst, Jim Burns, Kenneth Boa and Brother Lawrence’s “practicing God’s presence.” You may not have heard of all these names, but they are all associated with the mystical contemplative prayer movement and the emerging church.
Another example of this is Donald Whitney’s book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Whitney is former Associate Professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and currently at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. While his book does not promote contemplative mysticism, he says that Richard Foster has “done much good”3 in the area of Christian spirituality (which we believe is blatantly untrue).
Our point is that even if there is a sincere attempt to teach Spiritual Formation and stay away from the mystical side, we contend that it cannot be successfully accomplished because it will always lead back to the ones who have brought it to the church in the first place.
Spiritual formation is sweeping throughout Christianity today. It’s no wonder when the majority of Christian leaders have either endorsed the movement or given it a silent pass. For instance, in Chuck Swindoll’s book So You Want to Be Like Christ: 8 Essential Disciplines to Get You There, Swindoll favorably quotes Richard Foster and Dallas Willard. Swindoll calls Celebration of Discipline a “meaningful work”4 and Willard’s book The Spirit of the Disciplines “excellent work.”5 In chapter three, ”Silence and Solitude,” Swindoll talks about “digging for secrets . . . that will deepen our intimacy with God.”6 Quoting the contemplative poster-verse Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God,” Swindoll says the verse is a call to the “discipline of silence.”7 As other contemplative proponents have done, he has taken this verse very much out of context.
Roger Oakland sums it up:
The Spiritual Formation movement . . . teaches people that this is how they can become more intimate with God and truly hear His voice. Even Christian leaders with longstanding reputations of teaching God’s word seem to be succumbing. . . .
We are reconciled to God only through his “death” (the atonement for sin), and we are presented “holy and unblameable and unreproveable” when we belong to Him through rebirth. It has nothing to do with works, rituals, or mystical experiences. It is Christ’s life in the converted believer that transforms him.8
“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Romans 5:10
What Christians need is not a method or program or ritual or practice that will supposedly connect them to God. What we need is to be “in Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:30) and Christ in us. And He has promised His Spirit “will guide [us] into all truth” (John 16:13).
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” 1 Corinthians 1:30
In Colossians 1:9, the apostle Paul tells the saints that he was praying for them that they “might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” He was praying that they would have discernment (“spiritual understanding”). He said that God, the Father, has made us “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (vs 12) and had “delivered us from the power of darkness [i.e., power of deception]” (vs. 13). But what was the key to having this wisdom and spiritual understanding and being delivered from the power of darkness? Paul tells us in that same chapter. He calls it “the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints” (vs. 26). What is that mystery? Verse 27 says: “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (emphasis added).
For those wanting to get involved with the Spiritual Formation movement (i.e., contemplative, spiritual direction), consider the “direction” you will actually be going.
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel. (Colossians 1:21-23)
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2: 8-10)
This article is an extract from the Lighthouse Trails booklet, Is Your Church Doing Spiritual Formation? (Important Reasons Why They Shouldn’t). To order this booklet, click here.
Endnotes:
1. Dallas Willard, “Spiritual Formation: What it is, and How it is Done” (https://dwillard.org/resources/articles/spiritual-formation-what-it-is-and-how-it-is-done).
2. Larry DeBruyn, “God’s Present of His Presence” (https://www.guardinghisflock.org/gods-present-of-his-presence/ ).
3. Donald Whitney, “Doctrine and Devotion: A Reunion Devoutly to be Desired” (http://web.archive.org/web/20080828052145/http://biblicalspirituality.org/devotion.html).
4. Chuck Swindoll, So You Want to Be Like Christ: 8 Essential Disciplines to Get You There (Nashville, TN:W Publishing Group, a div. of Thomas Nelson, 2005), p. 15.
5. Ibid., p. 13.
6. Ibid., p. 55.
7. Ibid.
8. Roger Oakland, Faith Undone (Eureka, MT: Lighthouse Trails Publishing, 2007), pp. 91-92.
This has been an extract from our booklet Is Your Church Doing Spiritual Formation? (Important Reasons Why It Shouldn’t). To order this booklet, click here.
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“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” Ephesians 1:4
Holiness comes by the Savior in self denial (death and burial – the cross), not by self will or effort. Surrender is the cross – “NOT my will but thine be done” (Lk. 22:42) and “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). We surrender to Christ by saying “Not my will but thine be done” dear Lord, by Your grace and the deliberate act of my own will I submit to the cross, the crucified life – where You alone reign supreme in this vessel (Luke 22:42; Galatians 2:20, etc.). I love You LORD Jesus! You must increase but I must decrease! (John 3:30)
Holiness, not happiness, is the divine command, the chief purpose and end of Christ’s salvation.
Of holiness, one disciple writes:
“Holiness speaks more to nature than it does conduct. Good conduct is the spontaneous byproduct of the new nature of the new creation man thru the cross and death to the old nature. We are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-18). To preach holiness as conduct without the new nature thru the cross understanding is legalism. Holiness is actually derived from ‘wholeness’ meaning the thorough transformation of the whole tripartite man (1 Thess 5:23). So many of these ‘holiness’ preachers are preaching nothing but conduct under law. Law arouses sinful passions and causes sin to increase and was given in order to provoke transgressions (Rom 7:5; 5:20; Gal 3:21). They are enemies of the cross!”
Holiness comes by way of the cross, not by way of the flesh. Just as sin was conquered by the cross of Christ, so sin in the life of the saint is conquered by the daily cross – the crucified life (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.). It’s time to stop trying harder and to simply die deeper.
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