Articles

Exposure Dialogue

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove (expose), rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4

WE have no instance of Christ or His apostles praying for a wolf. But we often see them openly exposing them and instructing them to do the same. Warning

Have you ever attended the meetings, seen or read the books, heard the tapes, or visited the sites with the supposed prophetic words given from self-appointed prophets and apostles? It takes little reading to see that these guys do not represent the LORD at all as they suppose, but they do use His holy name in vain by attaching it to their own false visions and false burdens (Lam. 2:14). Like the false prophets of old, their messages are missing the elements of the true prophets and the LORD’s message. Most of it is flattery. Are these things to be addressed by God-fearing men?

“And they (true servant-leaders) shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.” Ezekiel 44:23-24

The disciple who diligently, relentlessly studies to show himself approved unto God, will rightly divide what is true and what is false (2 Timothy 2:15). The one who knows and uses the written Word, “the more sure word of prophecy”, will not be deluded by the fancy speeches of these false apostles and false prophets who speak a vision of their own deceived hearts to be seen of men (Heb. 5:11-14; 2 Pet. 1:16-21).

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:16

The LORD has magnified and lifted His Word ABOVE even His own name, so where does that leave the words of mere men who are in their very best state – “altogether vanity”? (Ps. 39:5; 138:2) If we truly honor the LORD and uphold His holy Word as final divine authority, we will cease to be impressed by the words of mere men.

“Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.” Proverbs 25:14

Isn’t it time we cease from defending these false prophets and instead, begin to violently uncover the darkness of these emissaries of the devil who are leading millions astray? (2 Cor. 11:13-15) Where do you stand? “With” OR “against” Jesus Christ? (Matt. 12:30)

“Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?” Psalms 94:16

MARK of an agent of Satan: One who is not warning the flock of God in order to protect Jesus’ people and then attacks those who are warning them to protect them!!

———————————————————————————-

TYPICAL DEFENSE OF A WOLF:

“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)

MESSAGE RECEIVED IN DEFENSE OF JOEL OSTEEN WHO WAS BEING EXPOSED:

“‘Touch not mine anointed‘

Folks Your Spiritual Ignorance Will Limit The Word Of God In Your Lives…”

REPLY:

Speaking of ignorance….. you are bidding Godspeed to (condoning, defending) an obvious false teacher which means you will be judged with this wolf. Repent. “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 2 Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 10-11

It’s interesting how you condemn others (wrongly) by saying they are wrongly judging. Wow. Hypocrisy. Matt 7:1-5

ALL of God’s true people are His anointed (2 Cor 1:21; 1 John 2:20, 27, etc.). You are using that verse out of context.

MESSAGE RECEIVED:

“We are not to come against God’s servants.”

REPLY:

They AREN’T God’s servants and any astute student of Scripture knows that… we are divinely mandated to mark them – Read closely – “THEY SERVE NOTTTTT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST” …..

“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 (false teachers) serve NOT our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Rom 16:17-18

See something wrong with this statement?

Keith Abrahams says: “I think the issue of women (in ministry) is very, very important in the end time church. I think it is very biblical – in the past there has been a lot of controversy over it. Lots of women have been put down in the church. But I believe that in the church of the last days we are going to have a lot of women (in ministry). I just returned from Europe, and I had the opportunity to speak with a pastor from the Ukraine. Most of the people on his apostolic team, in the largest church in Europe, are women. Now I think we need to back up (re-examine) Scripture . . .”

Our response: Notice how he starts off – “I think…” Who cares what this false prophet thinks? Do you? Concerning each and every issue, the one who is true to Christ asks “What saith the Scriptures?” Aren’t the Holy Scriptures the primary way God leads His New Testament people? See 2 Tim. 3:16. According to Keith Abrahams, the Jezebelian apostasy Jesus foretold us would revive in the churches in the last days, is now the measure of truth – especially in the nations of Europe which have largely rejected the truth for centuries now? See Revelation 2:18-29. Has Abrahams never read about the “more noble” believers at Berea who tested what even the apostle Paul stated against the Holy written Word? Did Paul arrogantly complain that someone would dare question him or his teaching? Not for a minute! (Acts 17:10-11)

One of the qualifications to be an elder in the kingdom of God is that one must be “the HUSBAND of one WIFE.” (1 Tim. 3:2) Can anyone tell us how that any woman possibly be “the HUSBAND of one wife?” In the same list of qualifications, we also read that the overseer must be “One that ruleth well HIS own house, having HIS children in subjection with all gravity.” (1 Tim. 3:4) Can anyone produce even one single verse in the New Testament canon which refers to a woman as an elder or overseer or bishop or apostle, prophet, evangelist of teacher? This doesn’t mean women don’t have gifts and ministry callings, but their role (not significance) is unique and different that that which God made man to fulfill. Why don’t we just do things God’s way – by simply adhering to His Word? It seems that there is a great lack of backbone among so many men who are in leadership. So many faint-hearted spiritual pansies are always trying to follow the least line of resistance and pander to the spirit of Jezebel in certain women who demand authority. Axe to the root!

Beware of the Apostolic Roundtable organization which is the nesting place for false apostles and false prophets. | NAR (New Apostolic Reformation Cult Exposed
———————————-
“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 10-11
——————————————-
Does this guy and this foolishness need any explanation?

Todd Bentley: “Somebody emailed our ministry and asked a valid question. He said, “Todd, you are going to have all these men – prophets and apostles – get together and talk about the emerging apostolic movement. My fear would be that there wouldn’t be a representation of the Goths, the Punks and the Ravers – the whole underground world that God is moving in today – the movement that offends and scares most people in the church. You know – the punked and colored hair with all the earrings and piercings in every part of the body. Is there not room for true apostle and prophets in that sub-culture? From that question I realized that we need to be very careful in the whole new emerging (apostolic) movement, not to just package it how we think it should look. I am going to make some statements now: There are punk apostles; there are biker prophets; there are ravers that are apostles; there are skinheads that are part of this prophetic movement…I don’t have any here right now. I’d be the closest thing. We must not forget that these (sub-cultures) have a voice in this whole prophetic movement too. The teenage apostles and the teenage prophets are being raised up, and it’s also happening in other spheres of life too.”
——————————–
“These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” 2 Peter 2:17-19
——————————–
At a recent conference, Jim Goll said: “In the beginning of the book of Acts, Jesus went about doing and then teaching, so this night there has been an example set before this great congregation (referring to himself and another self-appointed prophet). There has been an example of doing and teaching. And the Lord says this is the model of the book of Acts of the Apostles. For there has been the calling for the strategic keys of an apostolic age to be released (total deception). The Lord would say that this is significant, that this is important. That this consecration would occur in the middle of this celebration, for it is a doing and a teaching. It’s a catching of fish and a releasing of them to go forth and to multiply. And the Lord would say to you Todd, “I am going to surround you with elders. I am going to surround you with the elders of My counsel. I am going to bring them around you, those that are even twice your age and even some that are three times your age. I am going to bring them around you, both men and women, and they are going to be a safety net. They are going to be put around you for the birthing canal of which you are, and they will look in upon you, and they will wonder, and they will be fascinated, and they will wonder how in the world is all this happening in five years.”

Response: Note this deceptive statement slipped in here: “For there has been the calling for the strategic keys of an apostolic age to be released.” Whose “calling”? Where did the LORD tell us there is “the calling for the strategic keys of an apostolic age”? Do you know why these brood of false apostles and false prophets all say things like this? It’s simple – THEY are those people who are to rule over everyone else. Interestingly they themselves prophesy themselves into prominence, taking the name of the LORD in vain by placing it upon the dreams and visions of their own hearts. Remember that it was John the Baptist who announced the coming of Jesus and not He Himself (Matt. 3:3; Jn. 1:29).
————————————–
If you have ever wondered about the gold teeth fillings and gold dust manifestations, you will never wonder again after this page, which includes a historical sketch of the occultic roots of this phenomenon. Gold Rush – End-Time Lying Signs & Wonders
————————————————————–
“These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.” Jude 12-13
——–
Dialogue with pastor concerning Rick Warren:

It is truly regrettable to see those in leadership today so zealous to read other men’s words while neglecting the words of God. This manifests itself in that so many churches today have programs which virtually never feature the study of a book of the Bible but rather a book or media production from a mere human author (many who are adding to or taking away from the Word of God). Where is the discipleship in the Word? (2 Tim. 2:15; 3:15-4:4) No wonder such deception and deceit abounds in the visible church world (Matt. 24:10-13). Today, the spiritual empty apostate leadership in the visible American church world has learned well how to read what someone else says about the Bible and to follow trends and fad books from best-selling mere human authors. Take a look below at a recent dialogue I had with the pastor of a large congregation concerning fad book author Rick Warren. I had referred this pastor to our page on Rick Warren and here is his response and mine:

RESPONSE FROM THE PASTOR:

“Todd: Rick Warren has been used of God to lead thousands of people to saving faith in Christ. I would be very careful in labeling him a false prophet. Jesus said, “You shall know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). Based on the fruit in his life and ministry, I would call him a true follower of Jesus Christ. Does he do it all perfectly? No… but neither do you and neither do I. Would to God that you and I had ministries that brought untold thousands of people from “the domain of darkness to the Kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col. 1:13)” J. S. Pastor, FBC

RESPONSE:

“Thanks Brother Jeff…God bless you in His truth and peace brother. Thanks for emailing.

Does Warren even give the Gospel in his purpose book? Does he boldly and fervently call men to repentance before a holy God as John the Baptist and Jesus did – Matt. 3:4; 4:17. “Repent” was the very first word they each preached. They didn’t preach “believe” first but rather “repent”. Neither did they seek to draw men using entertainment. Remember, hirelings entertain goats while true under-shepherds feed Christ’s sheep and unwaveringly preach the original Gospel.

Did you realize that Warren was trained under Robert Schuller, a known false prophet? and he uses his methods and philosophies today….Warren is on the cutting edge of the seeker-sensitive movement which has removed repentance and therefore the alter call to call men to repent) and turned to entertainment in order to draw the nickels, noses and numbers. Jesus commanded His true followers to preach repentance (Lk. 24:47). He said it was essential to salvation (Lk. 13:3,5). This alone should prove the lack of genuine Bible fruit in Warren’s ministry. Preaching repentance is not conducive to drawing and keeping crowds so it is simply removed by the enterprising circus leaders of our day who are fashioning a “christianity” in their own image. Jesus help us before it is too late – Matt. 7:15-29.

Brother Jeff, this is how I see it after much observation so have no problem marking him in order to warn others and see Christ’s sheep protected – which is the mandate of every true servant of Jesus (Rom. 16:17-18; Col. 1:27-29; 2:8,18-19; Acts 20:27-32, Jude 3-4, etc.). Paul marked 8 men by name in the 4 chapters of 2 Timothy – “Naming Names – Is It Biblical?” Jesus is Coming, todd

Personally, I refuse to follow or fall into the politically correct silence of those who refuse to cry wolf on the wolves who operate in our midst and deceive and damn souls (Isa. 9:6; Ezek. 22:25, 27; Rom. 16:17-18; Col. 2:8). They must be marked as commanded by the LORD. Spiritual cowards who do not want to lose their lives (reputations) in their circles (among men) appear to have forsaken Jesus and His truth for the admiration of mere men (Mk. 8:34; Lk. 6:26; Gal. 1:10; 4:16; Jude 1:16).

Saints, the sad thing is that those who protect, defend and support these fad authors/works of fire-consumable stubble have made popular their works which do not present the true Gospel clearly given in the whole of Scripture (Hos. 4:6). Where is the discernment? Where are the Berean believers of this hour! (Acts 17:10-11) Those who fund these ministries are making them financially wealthy while many times those in the trenches who like Jesus care for several and also that one wayward sheep, and communicate the whole counsel of the Word, go hungry.

PRAYER: LORD Jesus, bless us never to fund the work of those who are accursed, those who turn aside from Thee and lead others astray with deception and lies, another gospel, another Jesus, and by another spirit, crassly denying and ignoring Your precious precepts. Nay rather bless us to get behind and prayerfully and diligently push upwardly, further forward those works and Gospel workers true to Your Word and Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

100’s of Christ-centered, Scripture-rich podcasts for your edification in Christ.

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

"Touch Not Mine Anointed" - In Context!

Wolves are not God’s anointed! They are His enemies! Get a clue! The enemies of Christ are not His anointed! Now repent. When you do, you will cease bidding Godspeed to Christ’s enemies who falsely claim to be His anointed ones in order to fleece His flock! 2 John 10-11 Those who have empathy for Satan’s agents and no mercy for those they’ve deceived and hurt, are pitifully demonic. Repent now you vile devil or you will go irrevocably to the same hell as those evil doers you defend! (Ezekiel 14:10; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 John 10-11) The LORD is […]

QUOTES FROM OSAS TEACHERS

OSAS Leaders Exposed! Caught Red Handed! Quotes from the “Eternal Security” and Calvinist Beguilers of Our Day Might the LORD be asking the following question to many today who recognize this unconditional security teaching for what it is? “Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?” Psalms 94:16 To illustrate just how widespread this unconditional eternal security teaching is, let’s look at some quotes from leaders who have influence over millions of souls. Charles Stanley: “As we begin our study of eternal security, we must keep two […]

JEZEBEL'S DOUBLE STANDARD EXPOSED! Ahabish Men on Full Blast! [podcast]

LADIES, men are not your enemy! Men miss the real women of generations gone by. Satan and his jezebel agents, otherwise known as “feminists”, are your sworn enemy and have destroyed countless lives by the lies they peddle. And then there are the male cowards who back and defend this delusion. Let’s take a shot at those pansies…. and yet I DO intend to insult, to mark you, so as to hopefully embarrass you so you repent, man-up and never bend again. Ahabs in the Crosshairs WHO was Ahab? Ahab was jezebel’s husband who allowed that witch jezebel to function […]

Apostasy

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.

Spiritual Formation Exposed |

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

The Dangers of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines

The Dangers of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines A Critique of Dallas Willard and The Spirit of the Disciplines by Bob DeWaayPractices called “spiritual disciplines” that are deemed necessary for “spiritual formation” have entered evangelicalism. Recent encounters with this teaching narrated to me by friends caused me to investigate these practices. The first experience involved my friend and co-worker Ryan Habbena who went back to seminary to finish his masters degree. Here is his experience in his own words: I recently took a seminary course on the book of Luke. It was a summer intensive and was one of only […]

SHOCKING List of Spiritual Formation Ministries

More Catholic Witchcraft Infiltrating the Apostate Seminaries, Ministries, and Churches “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” 1 Timothy 4:1-2 WHAT is spiritual formation / contemplative prayer or centering prayer? Spiritual formation/contemplative prayer/spirituality is just another self-centered, Christ-denying, self-righteous, works-based, occultic, pagan lie from hell! Seminaries teach it and now many churches today are practicing new age witchcraft called contemplative prayer, or centering Prayer which is part of spiritual formation. […]

Articles

Mission Mexico Part 32

“So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” Acts 19:20

See picture below.

I recently, “accidently” drove up this very narrow street only to realize that there was no turn around at the end. As God would have it, this man helped me back out of that street and received the spoken Word and a JESUS tract. Romans 8:28 right?

“Ephesians 3:20 was the very verse I prayed for you and the ministry this morning! And v16 as well. May the Spirit of God manifest His full grace and peace upon you today! And give you fruit, more fruit and much fruit! Amen.” Karen Cochran

(see picture below)

It dawns on me afresh today as it has since arriving here in Mexico, that these precious people so deeply hunger for Christ. Today, upon ministering to Victor and Juan and having Victor incessantly asking me about Christianity, Jesus, and being saved…. this was a fresh reminder of the great hunger and openness of the Mexican people. They want Jesus. Plain and simple. “HOW shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)

These two men were excited to know that you would be lifting them in prayer.

Victor and I are now connected by phone. So he will now be fed the Word of our God and be introduced to Spanish speaking disciples of our LORD Jesus.

Being limited in Spanish, I preached the Gospel, the Bible truth I am able to in Spanish and that including exhorting them both, today to repent and receive Jesus and did this while pointing to the prayer (oracion) on the back of the JESUS tract.

Would you like to kindly pause to lift these 2 dear men in prayer to our LORD?

Mission Mexico

JUST got a call from sister Teri in FL and had the opportunity to speak with brothers Scott and Jorge who were both recently saved by Jesus. Was also blessed to speak with a brother named Raymond who is a flourishing disciple of Jesus!

Thank you for your prayers and support which include our bless-ed opportunity of helping this group of disciples in FL.

Jesus is coming!

Recently…… Many received God’s Word today.

Brother Mark has recently joined in helping with our LORD’s Gospel in Mission Mexico and was amazed when he saw three grown men walking together who were ministered to and walk away, each of them with the JESUS tract open, as they walked read the message. They are that hungry.

The Mexico people deserve to hear our LORD’s glorious Gospel!

“I bet brother Mark is amazed at the response of the Mexican people when you guys go out and minister to them. To have so many hearts open and poor in spirit would be a shock at first. Total opposite of America—who say ‘I am rich, increased with goods have need of nothing!’ Revelation 3:17.

Praise God for the blessed ones who heard the engrafted word of our Lord, which is able to save their souls.” Karen

REPLY:

Yes He is amazing. They WANT it. They DESIRE it. They are like the woman who desires a man and so he marries her and they have a super blessed marriage for life. Instead of the wicked Jezebel woman who just wants to self-servingly shop for the man she can use to accomplish her selfish agenda.

“I was reading Mathew 21:23 this morning and it went through my mind that is what God said to America! ‘The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.’ And that nation is Mexico!“ Karen

“Truly amazing what God is doing in the hearts of the Mexican people. And now He is raising up disciples to bring into the harvest. He is LORD of the harvest. Have you heard of Chick Publications? I just read that they have sent 200,000 tracts to a Mexico missionary and more being ready to be sent. Southern Mexico. So God is sure flooding Mexico with His Word!” Karen Cochran

While walking over to get a haircut, I happened to spot a JESUS tract someone had placed on this vehicle. No it was not me. I didn’t put that tract there. Someone else did.

Then, 5 minutes later, after arriving at barber and sitting down in the chair, straight ahead in my line of sight, there’s a JESUS tract purposely set on display by the barber.

No matter how high prices get in Mexico, your cost of living will always be MUCH less than the USA. A raise awaits you, soon as you cross the border. Is God prompting you to “Go”? (Mark 16:15)

God is good all the time as you well know and thank you.

Your prayers to the Father in the name of our LORD Jesus are the heavenly fuel He uses to bless and empower and supply His people to do His work.

“For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,” Philippians 1:19

todd

Articles

Chosen for Holiness [podcast]

“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.

NOTICE: When a believer or group of believers backslides, they no longer separate from the transgressors who are unrepentant:

Fornication Defiles

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have (Gr. possessed and wouldn’t repent) his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

The Glorious Church Jesus is Returning for [video]

WHAT church/people is Jesus returning for? “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27 “a glorious church” “not having spot (no sin)“ No “wrinkle” “or any such thing” “but that it should be holy and without blemish” WHAT’s the use of talking about end times […]

Can a True Believer Overcome All Sin? [podcast]

Yes. In the church world, there’s an abundance of talk about sin and it comes with the notion, the inflection, the false assumption that somehow, born again believers are relegated to sinning, as if there’s no other choice. Is that true? Is this the biblical perspective? What I want us to do is make sure we are looking at the whole of Scripture and be blessed to gain a godly confidence that our Savior provided a perfect salvation that includes more than just the initial washing away of our sins. This “great grace” that He provided in His “so […]

The Truth about Holiness [podcast]

“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11 As we just read, divine “holiness” is “glorious.” Holiness is not what most of us think it is. Holiness in the divine economy is something of great “beauty” and utterly refreshing (Psalms 96:9). It seems that holiness is not merely a divine attribute but rather the divine nature of the Almighty. Are we ready to allow our LORD, who alone is “Holy, holy, holy,” to define what holiness truly is and how He brings it […]