—– “SATAN ENERGIZES HIS PUPPET-IDOLS WITH A SATANIC “GLORY”-GLOW, SO THAT THEY APPEAR MORE GIFTED AND/OR ATTRACTIVE THAN THEY ACTUALLY ARE, IF AT ALL. IT’S KNOWN AS “UNACCOUNTABLE INFATUATION.” WE SAW IT DISPLAYED IN THE MINDLESS, SATANIC HYSTERIA THAT ACCOMPANIED ELVIS AND THE BEATLES ET AL ETC. WITHOUT THAT DEMONIC SHEEN AND ENERGIZATION OF THE FORBIDDEN, LATENT POWERS OF THE SOUL, IDOLATRY WOULDN’T HAVE HALF THE POWER IT WIELDS TODAY. BIND THE STRONGMAN OVER THESE “STARS’” LIVES, AND YOU WILL SEE THEM FOR THE DRAB, WORN-OUT, WASHED-UP AND ORDINARY-LOOKING FOLKS THEY REALLY ARE. WHEN SATAN’S FINISHED WITH THEM, THEY LOOK NOTHING LIKE HE PAINTED THEM WHEN HE WAS STILL USING THEM.” B.
WE SEE “STAR” AFTER “STAR” DYING. SCARCELY DOES A WEEK EXPIRE IN THESE LAST DAYS THAT A “STAR” OF THIS FLEETING WORLD DOESN’T DIE IN SIN. THEY SERVED SELF AND THEREFORE SATAN HIMSELF, DENYING CHRIST TO THEIR OWN ETERNAL DEMISE.
MANY “stars” who now shine will soon be irrevocably thrust down to hell (Luke 10:18).
All who don’t choose to repent and serve Jesus Christ on HIS TERMS are going to hell irrevocably to be with their father the devil (Matthew 12:30; John 8:44).
“I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Luke 10:18
THE ENEMY’S WORK IS NOT LIMITED TO THE SECULAR WORLD
AS ONE DISCIPLE POINTS OUT IN THE ABOVE QUOTE, THE ONE WHOM THE BIBLE SAYS IS “THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR” AND “THE GOD OF THIS WORLD,” ALSO TARGETS THE CHURCH WORLD SPECIFICALLY (PSALMS 74:3-4, 7; 2 CORINTHIANS 4:4; EPHESIANS 2:2). IN THE MODERN CHURCH WORLD, SATAN HAS HIS “STARS” WHOM HE CAUSES TO GLOW IN ORDER TO DERAIL AND ROB THOSE SAVED BY OUR LORD AND THOSE SEEKING TO BE SAVED. THE STAGE THESE PROPHESIED WOLVES STAR AND GLOW ON IS THE MODERN CHURCH BUILDINGS, “CHRISTIAN” BOOKS, WEBSITES, AND OTHER MEDIA MEDIUMS. GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR ALL THE FALSE PROPHETS AND THEIR HERESIES – IT’S ALL A TEST TO PROVE WHO EACH INDIVIDUAL LOVES (1 CORINTHIANS 11:19; DEUTERONOMY 8; 2 THESSALONIANS 2, ETC.)
“FOR SUCH ARE FALSE APOSTLES, DECEITFUL WORKERS, TRANSFORMING THEMSELVES INTO THE APOSTLES OF CHRIST. 14 AND NO MARVEL; FOR SATAN HIMSELF IS TRANSFORMED INTO AN ANGEL OF LIGHT. 15 THEREFORE IT IS NO GREAT THING IF HIS MINISTERS ALSO BE TRANSFORMED AS THE MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; WHOSE END SHALL BE ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS.” 2 CORINTHIANS 11:13-15
DUE TO THE UNREPENTANT, SELF-SEEKING, SELF-WORSHIPING HEARTS OF MANY WHO CLAIM TO BE SAVED, THE WOLVES FLOURISH IN THIS SINFUL WORLD WHILE THOSE WHOM CHRIST HAS CALLED OUT TO WARN AS WATCHMEN, ARE IN TROUBLE. BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO TRULY REPENT (SURRENDER FULLY TO THE LORD), RIDDING THEIR HEARTS OF ALL IDOLATRY, AND TURN THEIR HEARTS TO THE LORD, THOSE WHO HAVE A MERE “FORM OF GODLINESS”ARE NOT GIVEN DISCERNMENT TO SEE THEIR IDOL WOLVES FOR WHO THEY REALLY ARE BECAUSE GOD HIMSELF IS SENDING THEM “STRONG DELUSION.” (2 CORINTHIANS 3:14-16; 2 THESSALONIANS 2:9-12; 2 TIMOTHY 3:1-7). HERE IS HOW THE BIBLE FORETOLD US THE APOSTASY OF THIS LAST HOUR WOULD TRANSPIRE:
“NOW WE BESEECH YOU, BRETHREN, BY THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND BY OUR GATHERING TOGETHER UNTO HIM, 2 THAT YE BE NOT SOON SHAKEN IN MIND, OR BE TROUBLED, NEITHER BY SPIRIT, NOR BY WORD, NOR BY LETTER AS FROM US, AS THAT THE DAY OF CHRIST IS AT HAND. 3 LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU BY ANY MEANS: FOR THAT DAY SHALL NOT COME, EXCEPT THERE COME A FALLING AWAY FIRST, AND THAT MAN OF SIN BE REVEALED, THE SON OF PERDITION; 4 WHO OPPOSETH AND EXALTETH HIMSELF ABOVE ALL THAT IS CALLED GOD, OR THAT IS WORSHIPPED; SO THAT HE AS GOD SITTETH IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD, SHEWING HIMSELF THAT HE IS GOD. 5 REMEMBER YE NOT, THAT, WHEN I WAS YET WITH YOU, I TOLD YOU THESE THINGS? 6 AND NOW YE KNOW WHAT WITHHOLDETH THAT HE MIGHT BE REVEALED IN HIS TIME. 7 FOR THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY DOTH ALREADY WORK: ONLY HE WHO NOW LETTETH WILL LET, UNTIL HE BE TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY. 8 AND THEN SHALL THAT WICKED BE REVEALED, WHOM THE LORD SHALL CONSUME WITH THE SPIRIT OF HIS MOUTH, AND SHALL DESTROY WITH THE BRIGHTNESS OF HIS COMING: 9 EVEN HIM, WHOSE COMING IS AFTER THE WORKING OF SATAN WITH ALL POWER AND SIGNS AND LYING WONDERS, 10 AND WITH ALL DECEIVABLENESS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IN THEM THAT PERISH; BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED NOT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED. 11 AND FOR THIS CAUSE GOD SHALL SEND THEM STRONG DELUSION, THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE A LIE: 12 THAT THEY ALL MIGHT BE DAMNED WHO BELIEVED NOT THE TRUTH, BUT HAD PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.” 2 THESSALONIANS 2:1-12
LISTEN TO THIS ….
I SPOKE WITH A MAN TODAY, A MAN WHO IS A TRUE SHEPHERD OF THE LORD’S FLOCK, FAITHFULLY FEEDING THEM WITH THE PURE WORD OF GOD. I HAVE KNOWN THIS MAN FOR SOME TIME NOW AND CAN TESTIFY TO HIS FAITHFULNESS TO SERVE THE LORD AND HIS PEOPLE. THAT MAKES HIM A RARE REPRESENTATIVE OF JESUS, ESPECIALLY IN THIS LATE HOUR WHEN “EVIL MEN AND SEDUCERS” ARE WAXING “WORSE AND WORSE.” (JEREMIAH 3:15; 2 TIMOTHY 3:12). THIS MAN AND HIS WIFE’S BANK ACCOUNT IS IN THE RED. THEY HAVE ESPECIALLY OF LATE STRUGGLED TO SURVIVE SO THEY CAN CONTINUE DOING THE INFINITELY MOST IMPORTANT WORK IN THE EARTH – THE GOSPEL. WHY? WHY ARE THEY SUFFERING THIS GREAT LACK? IT’S SIMPLE: THEY ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THEY MINISTER TO REFUSE TO DO THEIR PART IN THE WORK OF CHRIST. AND WHY DON’T THEY HELP? WHY DO THEY SQUANDER THE RESOURCES ON THE GOD OF SELF? – COULD IT BE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEVER AUTHENTICALLY REPENTED AND LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES?
THIS MAN AND HIS FAMILY’S PERILS ARE IN JEOPARDY DUE TO THE LACK OF OBEDIENCE OF THOSE THEY SO GRACIOUSLY AND DILIGENTLY SERVE. GOD WILL JUDGE THIS. THE LORD’S WORK IS BEING GREATLY HINDERED BY FREELOADERS WHO ARE SELF-IDOLATROUS (REVELATION 21:8).
THE LORD ORDAINS THAT THOSE WHOM HE CALLS OUT TO PREACH HIS GOSPEL LIVE OF THAT GOSPEL. THEY ARE WORTHY OF THEIR HIRE MORE THAN ANYONE WHO WORKS ON THIS EARTH. READ 1 CORINTHIANS 9:1-14 AND 1 TIMOTHY 5:17-18 TO BEGIN WITH. REMEMBER THE LEVITES. THE LORD’S TRUE SERVANTS ARE FEW AND THEY ARE FREELY GIVING THEMSELVES WITH TIME-INTENSIVE AND LABOR-INTENSIVE SERVING. AND MOST OF THEM ARE STARVING DUE TO THE PEOPLE THEY GENEROUSLY SERVE. THIS IS A TRAGEDY OF INFINITE PROPORTIONS AND IN MY OPINION, A CORE REASON WHY THIS NATION IS ON A GREASE POLE DOWNWARD! WE HAVE FORGOTTEN GOD JUST EXACTLY AS ISRAEL DID (PSALMS 9:17; 50:22; HAGGAI 1; MALACHI 3, ETC.).
“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16
The fruit of one’s life proves whom he is serving.
If you were accused of being a disciple of Jesus, would there be evidence enough to prove it?
If our lives do no bear the biblical fruit to prove we are saved it’s because we simply are not saved. Perhaps we were at some point in the past and have since backslid.
“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:20-22
Those who repent will – without exception – change their ways (Matthew 3:7-10). When God saves you your resources are saved. In other words the resources in your possession and those to come belong to Him (Proverbs 3:9-10). Giving is an integral part of our worship. The LORD would have us to be contributors to Christ’s work.
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” Matthew 3:7-10
COULD IT BE THAT MOST WHO CLAIM TO BE SAVED AND PARTICIPATE IN CHURCH ATTENDANCE ETC., HAVE NEVER TRULY REPENTED? DOES THE FRUIT OF THEIR LIVES MAKE THAT OBVIOUS? ARE OUR LIVES IN THIS FALLEN WORLD ABOUT GETTING MORE FOR SELF AND NOT MAGNIFYING THE SAVIOR WE CLAIM SAVED THEM? READ HAGGAI 1. ARE OUR PURSUITS CHRIST-CENTERED OR ARE THEY RATHER SELF-CENTERED?
“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15
You Know You are Bound for Hell When:
You love games and pleasures and other frivolity more than you love God and this is obvious in that you hesitate not one bit to spend endless hours entertaining the god of self, spending monies that could otherwise be used for furthering the Gospel of Jesus – the One you despise.
You don’t give because you are concerned only for yourself and your own self-serving purposes because you love your own life in this sinful world and have refused to truly repent. Hell awaits.
You live in and drive and wear the things that make you look “successful” in the eyes of mere sinful men because you have never truly repented. True repentance means you lay down your life (Luke 16:15).
You know you are a godless hypocrite when you crassly turn your eyes and ears away from those in need. Hell awaits as sure as you are reading these words if this is you.
You spend more time primping your nasty flesh than you do seeking the face of the LORD in holy prayer communion, praise, and studying His written Word.
You search out and seek out new ways to spend money on the god of self and yet hypocritically get infuriated when someone preaches a biblical message on stewardship and invites you to give. If that description fits you, you are a devil in need of repentance. Why? – because someone dares tamper with the god of self you serve and self’s ability to do whatever self wants to do.
You know you are an apostate hypocrite when you spend more money entertaining the false god of self than you do in supporting the work of Christ.
When you see your money as a means to further embellish your sin-sick life in this fallen world (Deuteronomy 8:18; Ephesians 4:28).
If you don’t believe that the way one spends his money is a direct reflection of what is important to him and what is not important, you are going to be destroyed for the lack of knowledge of God’s Word (Hoses 4:6). If any of this description above fits your personal life, be forewarned that your money will perish with you. Naked you came into this world and naked you shall return (Job 1:21; 1 Timothy 6:5-18).
YOUR ABILITY TO EARN MONEY IN THIS LIFE IS TO BE USED TO OBEY GOD BY FURTHERING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST AND NOT TO FURTHER ENTRENCH YOUR LIFE IN THIS SINFUL WORLD.
Jesus commanded us to give our lives as He gave His to redeem us. Those who repent and therefore know Christ, will obey Him. Christ commanded us to “give.” (Luke 6:38)
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46
It’s time to ditch the delusion that going to church is fulfilling God’s will. Jesus never instructed us to do such nor did His apostles. In most cases it’s a sin to go to most local churches due to the refusal of most leaders to truly preach the full counsel of the original Gospel in the holy fear of God with no regard of sinful men (Isaiah 2:22).
Jesus Has Not and Will Not Change
Nothing has changed. Jesus sure hasn’t changed (Hebrews 13:8) and He told us He sits and watches how we give or don’t give (Mark 12:41-44). He’s watching exactly what you are spending your money on. Yes you are personally accountable to the Almighty. As it was that day that “Jesus sat over against the treasury” and watched exactly who gave and how they gave – the amount percentage wise, and their hearts.
“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld (watched) how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” Mark 12:41-44
Like the widow woman here who was poor, so today those who have the least usually give the most percentage wise. This is what Jesus is watching.
You see, so many want to escape hell and yet have no desire to be made holy. They don’t want to know Jesus, they simply want to miss hell and this is because they are serving the god of self. Yet God cannot be fooled (Galatians 6:7-8). He sees the hearts and motives of all men and will judge accordingly. This indicates clearly that they have not laid down their lives in this world and are therefore serving the god of self. They love this world.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:15-17
This is why those who have chosen to love this world instead of Christ despise preaching like this and love their wolves who tell them smooth things – things that do not require truly repenting which Jesus says is essential to eternal life (Luke 13:3, 5). Hell awaits.
When a person genuinely repents, their life will be laid down in this fleeting world. They will see their earnings not as a means to build up their own lives in this world but as a means to be used of the LORD to further His blessed Gospel in the hearts of men! They will participate in the Great Commission Christ commanded (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20). Those who are Christ’s will refuse to prop up and build the kingdoms of wolves whose god is their belly (Philippians 3:18-19). The true disciple of Jesus denies SELF daily and takes up his cross to follow Jesus Christ who gave all to redeem him (Luke 9:23-24; Galatians 2:20; 5:24, etc.).
“STOP Telling Us the Truth! We Will Migrate to the Many Who Will Tell us Lies! Flatter our Flesh! Do Not Call Us to Truly Repent!”
This is the heart cry of most who claim to be saved today and know not that they are going to bust hell wide open upon drawing their last breath on this earth.
“Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: 9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law (Word) of the LORD: 10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: 11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. (stop preaching God’s Word and give us success and prosperity preaching. Tell us what’s in it for US!) 12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: 13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. 14 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit. 15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning (truly repenting) and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.” Isaiah 30:8-15
Does this Sound Familiar?
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:1-7
What to Preach and Why
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 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; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:1-4
Attention Men of God
Those divinely called out to preach God’s Word must warn all those they speak to.
“So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. 8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? 11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. 13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.” Ezekiel 33:7-13
Servant of Christ: You must strengthen your backbone (Ephesians 3:16). You must stand up straight and unapologetically declare the holiness and fierce wrath of the LORD to come.
“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” 2 Corinthians 5:11
Are you soft peddling (misrepresenting) the things the LORD warns us about?
Are you more interested in what mere sinful men think of you or will think if you truly abandon your life to Christ and therefore preach His original Gospel?
The LORD Warned Isaiah and Us:
Fear God, not mere sinful men.
“Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. … I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;” Isaiah 51:7, 12
“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25
Disclosing the full counsel of God’s Word is a must (Acts 20:20, 27, etc.). You must preach on repentance, fruit, hell, Christ, the holiness of God, fearing the LORD, prayer, the Word, and stewardship, etc., as Jesus and His holy apostles and prophets have left us with mountains of discourse and Scripture on these interrelated matters. Why must you preach these things?
1) To fear and to obey God and not mere men (Proverbs 29:5).
2) You must preach the whole counsel of His Word for which you shall give full account on that Day (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
3) You must preach, WARN, and teach the whole of Scripture truth (Colossians 1:28)
4) You must be oblivious to the evil-hearted, hell bound rebels who claim to be saved and yet balk at His clearly revealed truth (Isaiah 30:8-15; 51:7, 12; 2 Timothy 4:1-4, etc.).
5) You must call men who claim to be the LORD’s children to repent and to bring forth fruit to prove they have repented so they can truly be saved and not perish in hell eternally (Matthew 3:7-10).
6) You must not retain blood on your hands for not sending the clear warning to all you preach to (Ezekiel 3, 33).
7) You must make up for the intentional, gross, blinding lack of the preaching of the severity of God – the eternal judgment coming upon all whose lives are not laid down flat in humility and brokenness (Romans 11:20-22).
8) The eternal souls of men are at stake (Ezekiel 3, 18, 33; Mark 8:36-37).
Like it or not, this is your calling from the LORD. God is going to bring you into accountability for how you rightly stewarded or wasted the resources He alone allowed to come into your hands in this fleeting life. Such is a true reflection of where your spiritual state truly is (Matthew 6:21, 24).
Lay it Up There Not Here!
Jesus taught and commanded:
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:19-24
God Must be First or You will not be Saved from Eternal Fire
Watch what you say:
“Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. Jas 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. Jas 4:16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:13-17
“It is Time to Seek the Lord”
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. 13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.” Hosea 10:12-13
The LORD is calling you to repent, to surrender without reserve, and to lay down your life flat before Him. If you don’t, you will perish sure as you are reading these words.
I PERSONALLY KNOW OF ONE DIVINELY CALLED-OUT GOSPEL WORKER WHO IS LIVING OUT OF HIS CAR. HE LABORS CEASELESSLY TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL, EVANGELIZE, PRAY FOR, AND FEED THE FLOCK OF GOD. HE MINISTERS TO THOUSANDS WHO VAINLY CLAIM TO BE SAVED AND YET ONLY A VERY FEW CARE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT HIM. THERE ARE MANY HE FEEDS WHO COULD GIVE HUNDREDS OR EVEN THOUSANDS MONTHLY AND NEVER MISS THAT MONEY AND YET THEY REFUSE. HELL AWAITS (LUKE 16:19-31). ONLY A MINUSCULE FEW GIVE A HOOT. 99% OF THOSE HE LABORS TO FEED COULD CARE LESS BECAUSE THEY ARE LOST AND HAVE NEVER TRULY REPENTED. THEY SAID A PRAYER AND A HIRELING WOLF LED THEM TO BELIEVE THAT THAT LITTLE MAGIC PRAYER SAVED THEM. WHAT A TRAGEDY!
“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” Galatians 4:16
Don’t like this straight truth? Don’t like the messenger of it? I could care less if you hate me for communicating the raw, original truth of His holy Gospel. You won’t be the first or last to hate me for the truth’s sake. Hit reply and you will be swiftly removed with no hard feelings. If this offends you it further proves you are a lost soul, bound for eternal damnation in the lake of fire. You have been lied to – coddled in your sins by the wolves you freely support, funding their perpetration of evil and damning the souls of many (2 John 7-11).
The laid down life is the only saved soul. Lay it all down or perish.
It’s time to count the cost.
It’s time to measure how much you truly love God … Or self. Who will you serve? Who will you worship? You must choose (Matthew 6:24). You will choose.
“And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Luke 14:25-35
Prayer of Repentance: Heavenly Father, I have wasted Your resources which clearly reveals that I have not been abiding in Christ and perhaps have never truly repented and therefore laid down my life. I have loved my life in this sinful world more than You. I have loved self instead of loving You with my whole being. I am fully guilty without question. So, at this moment, right now if never before, I lay my life You gave before You. I am guilty LORD Jesus and ask You to grant repentance unto everlasting life to my wretched soul. Please wash me now with Your perfect blood and flip my life upside down and turn it inside out for Your glory alone. I here and now lay my life in Your holy hands. Without reserve, without holding back anything, I release my whole being into Your hands. Into Your hands I submit my spirit. Fill my life afresh LORD Jesus and use me in many, many different ways to glorify Your holy name in the earth in accomplishing the Great Commission You gave to every member of Your body. I pray all these things in Jesus’ holy name and go forth rejoicing to humbly and freely be poured out before You and to serve Your blessed body and see souls saved and taught Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen!
Do you want to get deeper into God’s Word? If so, send a reply requesting the “Moments with My Master” email that is sent out to edify Christ’s body.Sign up Here.
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.
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. […]
“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
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 […]
