Apostasy

Richard Foster Exposed

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]

A Biblically based commentary on current issues that impact you

Richard Foster—Celebration of Deception

by Bob DeWaay

Christianity Today ran a glowing cover story about Evangelicalism’s recent embrace of medieval Roman Catholic mysticism entitled The Future lies in the Past.¹ The article traced the beginning of the movement as follows: “The movement seems to have exploded in a 24-month period in 1977-1978, which saw the publication of Richard Foster’s bestselling Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth and Robert Webber’s Common Roots: A Call to Evangelical Maturity.”²

The article views Foster as one who continues to guide the movement: “From Dallas Willard, Richard Foster, and living practicing monks and nuns, they [those going back to Roman Catholic mysticism] must learn both the strengths and the limits of the historical ascetic disciplines.”³ So Foster was instrumental in starting a movement that is still growing 30-plus years later.

The irony about this particular CIC regarding Foster’s 1978 book is that in 1978 I myself was living in a Christian community committed to practicing much of what he promotes in Celebration of Discipline (even though we had not learned it from him directly). So I am not criticizing a practice about which I know nothing (or one in which I have no experience). I am criticizing a practice I foolishly allowed to deceive me for a significant portion of my early Christian life. When it comes to being deceived by mysticism, I have had abundant involvement. The only way I escaped it was through discovering and adopting the Reformation principle of sola scriptura.

In this article I will show that Foster’s “journey inward” is unbiblical and dangerous. I will show that most of the spiritual disciplines that he calls “means of grace” are no means of grace at all—but a means of putting oneself under spiritual deception.

The Journey Inward

The Bible nowhere describes an inward journey to explore the realm of the spirit. God chose to reveal the truth about spiritual reality through His ordained, Spirit-inspired, biblical writers. What is spiritual and not revealed by God is of the occult and, therefore, forbidden. We have discussed this in many articles and have produced DVD seminars on the topic. But the concept of sola scriptura is totally lost on mystics such as Richard Foster. They, like the enthusiasts that Calvin and Luther warned against, believe they can gain valid and useful knowledge of spiritual things through direct, personal inspiration.

Foster describes the idea of the disciplines that are the topic of his book: “The classical Disciplines of the spiritual life call us to move beyond surface living into the depths. They invite us to explore the inner caverns of the spiritual realm.”⁴ So Foster has conceptually repudiated sola scriptura on page one to replace it with a journey inward to explore the realm of spirits. Something must have been seriously amiss in evangelicalism already in 1978 to render this book a bestseller! It ought to have been repudiated on the spot. In a footnote to that statement Foster writes, “In one form or another all of the devotional masters have affirmed the necessity of the Disciplines” (Foster: 1). The devotional “masters,” by the way, are mostly Roman Catholics who never were committed to the principle of sola scriptura. It is not surprising that they looked for spirituality through experimentation. But as an “inner light” Quaker, Foster never was committed to sola scriptura either.

Forgetting that the Bible forbids divination, Foster explains what he is after:

[W]e must be willing to go down into the recreating silences, into the inner world of contemplation. In their writings, all of the masters of meditation strive to awaken us to the fact that the universe is much larger than we know, that there are vast unexplored inner regions that are just as real as the physical world we know so well. . . . They call us to the adventure, to be pioneers in this frontier of the Spirit. (Foster: 13)

Realizing that his readers would likely take this as an endorsement of Eastern religions, he makes a disclaimer that it is not Transcendental Meditation (TM) or something of that ilk: “Eastern meditation is an attempt to empty the mind; Christian meditation is an attempt to empty the mind in order to fill it” (Foster: 15). But what Foster wishes us to fill our minds with are personal revelations from the spirit realm that we naively are to think are the voice of God. This sort of meditation is not meditating on what God has said, but uses a technique to explore the spirit world. In other words, it is divination.

What we learn about the spirit realm either is revealed by God (once for all in Scripture) or gleaned by man-made techniques. That distinction is the difference between Christianity and paganism. Only Bible believers know what God has said about Himself and what He wishes to reveal about the unseen spirit world. Foster’s material continues to be popular because we live in an age where being spiritual pioneers on a journey into the unseen realm of the spirits is the essence of popular piety. It is the spirituality of secular talk shows.

To fully understand the degree of Foster’s deception, he even calls these techniques to the inner journey “means of grace”: “They [the Disciplines] are God’s means of grace” (Foster: 6). As with all who teach spiritual disciplines, there are no boundaries to these false “means.” For example, consider this recommended practice: “After you have gained some proficiency in centering down, add a five- to ten-minute meditation on some aspect of the creation. Choose something in the created order: tree, plant, bird, leaf, cloud, and each day ponder it carefully and prayerfully” (Foster 25). This after he had just taught breathing exercises (a means of “centering down”). Then he makes a startling claim: “We should not bypass this means of God’s grace” (Foster: 25). And there we have it: meditating of a leaf can be a means of grace!

Foster’s journey inward is to discover a spirit world that is available for any who search for it: “How then do we come to believe in a world of the spirit? Is it by blind faith? Not at all. The inner reality of the spiritual world is available to all who are willing to search for it” (Foster: 18). He claims that this spiritual search is analogous to scientific experimentation. Never mind that every pagan culture that has existed has believed in the “spiritual world.”

Spirituality of the Imagination

The Bible does not have anything good so say about the imagination. For example: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own imagination, Not from the mouth of the Lord'” (Jeremiah 23:16). A search of the KJV for “imagination” yields 14 verses, and in each case it is a bad thing. According to the Bible, the imagination is where people go when they do not want to listen to God.

However, for Foster the imagination is central: “The inner world of meditation is most easily entered through the door of the imagination. We fail today to appreciate its tremendous power. The imagination is stronger than conceptual thought and stronger than the will” (Foster: 22). Some of the authorities he cites on this point are C. G. Jung, Ignatius of Loyola, and Morton Kelsey. Jung is famous for his concept of the collective unconscious, and Kelsey was an Episcopal priest committed to Jungian principles. Kelsey wrote many books promoting mysticism. The advice Foster gleans from these teachers is that we must learn to think in images and take our dreams to be a possible doorway into the spirit world. Foster claims that dreams are something we already have and can help us develop the use of the imagination. He says, “Keeping a journal of our dreams is a way of taking them seriously” (Foster: 23).

There is, Foster warns, a danger to this process: “At the same time [that we ask for dreams to be God speaking to us], it is wise to pray a prayer of protection, since to open ourselves to spiritual influence can be dangerous as well as profitable” (Foster: 23). I would say that is asking God to protect us as we use various techniques to go where He does not want us to go (into the world of the spirits to gain information). The danger he warns of is far greater than Foster imagines. Those who take the journey inward will be deceived—every time! We are not equipped to gain spiritual information from that realm. That is why God speaks to us through His ordained mediators (the inspired Biblical writers); otherwise we would be fishing in the dark in a medium we are not suited for.

Foster teaches his readers to use their imaginations to experience Biblical stories with the five physical senses. Here is what he claims will happen:

As you enter the story, not as a passive observer but as an active participant, remember that since Jesus lives in the Eternal Now and is not bound by time, this event in the past is a living present-tense experience for Him. Hence, you can actually encounter the living Christ in the event, be addressed by His voice and be touched by His healing power. It can be more than an exercise of the imagination; it can be a genuine confrontation. Jesus Christ will actually come to you. (Foster: 26)

Showing that Foster’s ideas are still influential in our day, Greg Boyd cites some of Foster’s words here to support what he calls “cataphatic prayer” which uses the imagination and images as a means to contact God and gain spiritual information.⁵ Those who endorse this practice assume they are not being deceived by spirits, but I cannot see on what grounds.

Foster prescribes a practice using one’s imagination that mimics astral projection to the degree that he actually includes a footnote disclaimer stating that it is not astral projection (Foster 28). It begins by telling his readers to imagine themselves going out into nature into a beautiful place (Boyd describes how he practices this, as well as its results⁶). After enjoying the sights and smells (in your imagination) these are the next steps:

In your imagination allow your spiritual body, shining with light, to rise out of your physical body. Look back so that you can see yourself lying in the grass and reassure your body that you will return momentarily. Imagine your spiritual self, alive and vibrant, rising up through the clouds and into the stratosphere. . . Go deeper and deeper into outer space until there is nothing except the warm presence of the eternal Creator. Rest in His presence. Listen quietly, anticipating the unanticipated. Note carefully any instruction given. With time and experience you will be able to distinguish readily between mere human thought that may bubble up to the conscious mind and the True Spirit which inwardly moves upon the heart. (Foster: 27, 28)

I must ask how one knows whether “True Spirit” is not a deceiving one? Mysticism’s fatal flaw is that it naively assumes that Christians having subjective religious experiences must therefore be having Christian experiences that are truly from God—even if the experiences were provoked through unbiblical practices similar to those used by pagans.

Mental Alchemy

Foster’s approach to prayer is laced with mysticism as well. He claims that prayer needs to be learned from people who have the right experiences and are “masters” who know what they are doing. Foster does not teach ordinary prayer, whereby we bring our needs and requests to the Lord and know that He hears us (because He promised that He does). Here is why he thinks such prayer fails:

Often people will pray and pray with all the faith in the world, but nothing happens. Naturally, they were not contacting the channel. We begin praying for others by first centering down and listening to the quiet thunder of the Lord of hosts. Attuning ourselves to divine breathings is spiritual work, but without it our praying is vain repetition (Mt. 6:7). Listening to the Lord is the first thing, the second thing, and the third thing necessary for successful intercession. (Foster: 34)

Of course this means we have to become mystics if we want to pray.

He teaches that we first must hear personal revelations from God, using meditation techniques such as he teaches, before we pray. He says: “The beginning point, then, in learning to pray for others is to listen for guidance . . . This inner “yes” is the divine authorization for you to pray for the person or situation” (Foster: 35). No! Foster is wrong! The only authorization we need to pray is the Biblical command to pray—not personal revelations.

For Foster, meditation (mystical style) is necessary but not sufficient. He also brings the imagination into the process: “As with meditation, the imagination is a powerful tool in the work of prayer” (Foster: 36). He credits Agnes Sanford⁷ for helping him see the value of using the imagination in praying. Foster writes, “Imagination opens the door to faith. If we can ‘see’ in our mind’s eye a shattered marriage whole or a sick person well, it is only a short step to believing it will be so” (Foster: 36). Sanford got her ideas from Theosophy, New Thought, Jung, and Emmet Fox. These ideas, echoed by Foster, come from the unbiblical “mind over matter” thinking of that era. That kind of thinking uses creative visualization to change reality or channel spiritual power. Foster suggests, “Imagine the light of Christ flowing through your hands and healing every emotional trauma and hurt feeling your child experienced that day” (Foster: 39).

In his 1985 book, The Seduction of Christianity, Dave Hunt labeled creative visualization such as what Foster promotes, “mental alchemy.”⁸ Hunt warned the church that Foster promoted such mental alchemy in Celebration of Discipline, and as we have shown, he, in fact, does. So how is it that 24 years after Hunt’s warning Foster is more popular than ever with Evangelicals? The answer is end times deception. Now, a huge movement that claims to be a reformation promoting Foster, Willard and their versions of mysticism does exist (i.e., The Emergent Church). Things have gotten so very much worse.

Spiritual Directors

Once mysticism and the supposed need to gain personal revelations from God are embraced, there arises a need for new “masters” who are better at navigating the spirit world. Pagan societies have always had such persons. They are called “shamans.” Eastern religion calls them “gurus.” Deceived Christians call them “spiritual directors.” Foster explains, “In the Middle Ages not even the greatest saints attempted the depths of the inward journey without the help of a spiritual director” (Foster: 159). The problem, according to Foster, is that the churches (in 1978) lacked “living masters”:

No doubt part of the surge of interest in Eastern meditation is because the churches have abrogated the field. How depressing for a university student, seeking to know the Christian teaching on meditation, to discover that there are so few living masters of contemplative prayer and that nearly all of the serious writings on the subject are seven or more centuries old. No wonder he or she turns to Zen, Yoga, or TM. (Foster: 14)

Foster’s dream has come true. Today people can even practice Yoga in a Christian church. We have Christian TM; it is called contemplative prayer. Yes, Eastern religion has come right into the church, and Foster has helped usher it in.

But what about “living masters” or spiritual directors? In 1972 Morton Kelsey lamented their lack: “Indeed I would suggest that everyone who is serious about relating to the spiritual realm find himself a spiritual director, if there were more men trained and experienced in this way.”⁹ That “problem” has been solved in a huge way. Evangelical theology schools are now offering masters degrees in “spiritual formation” in order to equip people to be “spiritual directors.” Here is what Biola University says about its program: “This degree is designed to equip men and women for the ministry of spiritual direction, discipleship, formation and soul care in the local church and for further academic training in spiritual formation.”¹⁰ Spiritual Directors International will help you find a spiritual director regardless of your religion.¹¹ Richard Foster’s own Renovare, which purports to “encourage renewal in the Christian church,” has a list of spiritual direction programs.¹²

Foster explains the purpose of the spiritual director: “He is the means of God to open the path to the inward teaching of the Holy Spirit” (Foster: 160). Apparently, in a full-blown rejection of sola scriptura where the Holy Spirit’s teaching is mediated to the church through the Biblical writers only, we need mediators for personal revelations beyond scripture.

Foster explains how spiritual directors lead: “He leads only by the force of his own personal holiness” (Foster: 160). In Roman Catholicism the Pope is called “his holiness” and in Tibetan Buddhism the Dalai Lama is called “his holiness” but now evangelicals are developing a class of people who evidently deserve the title. How exactly are we to judge when someone has gained “personal holiness” sufficient to be a spiritual director and mediate spirituality to others? Foster says, “Though the director has obviously advanced further into the inner depths, the two [master and disciple] are together learning and growing in the realm of the Spirit” (Foster: 160). Foster cites Roman Catholic mystic Thomas Merton about how this works: “The spiritual director was something of a ‘spiritual father who begot the perfect life in the soul of his disciple by his instructions first of all, but also by his prayer, his sanctity and his example. He was . . . a kind of ‘sacrament’ of the Lord’s presence in the ecclesiastical community” (Foster: 161).

End Times Delusion

When it comes to end times deception, Foster is on the cutting edge of embracing it. Consider what he wrote: “In our day heaven and earth are on tiptoe waiting for the emerging of a Spirit-led, Spirit-intoxicated, Spirit-empowered people. . . . Individuals can be found here and there whose hearts burn with divine fire” (Foster: 150). Such inclinations have led to massive deception. They smack of the Latter Rain deception, now embodied in such false teachers as Rick Joyner and Mike Bickle. They are elitist. They are in line with the beliefs of the Emergent Church as well. He also says: “Our century has yet to see the breaking forth of the apostolic church of the Spirit” (Foster: 150). Now we have the New Apostolic Reformation claiming to be just that. Foster’s ideas now embody the massive apostasy and end times deception that characterize our age.

Foster’s teachings have taken the church as far away from the Reformation principle of sola scriptura as the Roman Catholic Church ever was. The only thing left is for them to bring us all the way back to Rome. Christianity Today praises Foster for pointing us in that direction.

In early 2008 I wrote a CIC article about how abandoning the principle of sola scriptura would lead evangelicals back to Rome.¹³ It was partly a response to the CT article praising mysticism. The response I received was rather unexpected. I was contacted by former evangelicals who had rejected sola scriptura and had gone back to Rome! They wanted to debate me about sola scriptura. Sadly, my point was proven. As a response to their misguided challenge our church hosted a seminar on sola scriptura, called Faith at Risk 4.¹⁴ In the seminar Gary Gilley and I defended the scriptures as the sole authority for the church.

The aforementioned CT article discusses a new monasticism, former evangelical leaders converting to Roman Catholicism, and mystical practices like lectio divina—and they call all of it a good and hopeful thing. Chris Armstrong, the author of the article, concluded, “That they [evangelicals] are receiving good guidance on this road from wise teachers [Foster and Willard] is reason to believe that Christ is guiding the process. And that they are meeting and learning from fellow Christians in the other two great confessions, Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox, is reason to rejoice in the power of love.”¹⁵

Who is left to defend the principles of the Reformation? One would think Reformed theologians are, but they aren’t doing their job. In the last CIC article we mentioned Reformed theologian Donald Whitney who wrote: “Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline has been the most popular book on the subject of the Spiritual Disciplines in the last half of the twentieth century. The great contribution of this work is the reminder that the Spiritual Disciplines, which many see as restrictive and binding, are actually means to spiritual freedom.”¹⁶ That from a teacher in a Reformed seminary?

If a book that teaches Christian TM, Christian astral projection and mental alchemy by means of the imagination is a “great contribution,” then something is seriously wrong here. The delusion is so widespread that I see no other explanation for it than the end time deception predicted by Paul: “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,” (1Timothy 4:1). Another passage warns: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2Timothy 4:3, 4).

That time now is here. We are accountable to God for what we believe and practice. Those who wish to persevere in the faith in this age of delusion must base their beliefs and practices only on the truths found in Scripture. Foster’s journey into the world of the spirits will deceive all who enter it.

Issue 112 – May / June 2009

End Notes

1. Chris Armstrong, “The Future lies in the Past” in Christianity Today, February 2008.
2. Ibid. 24.
3. Ibid. 29.
4. Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth (New York: Harper & Row, 1978) 1. All subsequent citations from this book will be bracketed within the text in this fashion: (Foster: 1).
5. Greg Boyd, Seeing is Believing, (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004). Boyd cites Foster to prove that the Lord will actually come to us through our use of “imaginative meditation.” I deal with this issue more fully in CIC issue 83 July/August, 2003: HTTP://CICMINISTRY.ORG/COMMENTARY/ISSUE83.HTM
6. Ibid. 111-125.
7. I write about Sanford’s inner healing theories in CIC Issue 96: HTTP://CICMINISTRY.ORG/COMMENTARY/ISSUE96.HTM
8. Dave Hunt and T. A. McMahon, The Seduction of Christianity (Eugene: Harvest House, 1985) 138.
9. Morton Kelsey, Encounter With God, (Bethany Fellowship: Minneapolis, 1972) 179.
10. http://www.biola.edu/spiritualformation/programs/ SEE PDF
11. HTTP://WWW.SDIWORLD.ORG
12. HTTP://WWW.RENOVARE.ORG/JOURNEY_TRAINING_DIRECTION.HTM
13. CIC Issue 105; March/April 2008: HTTP://CICMINISTRY.ORG/COMMENTARY/ISSUE105.HTM
14. Watch this seminar HERE
15. Armstrong, Future
16. DONALD S. WHITNEY, SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES FOR THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (COLORADO SPRINGS: NAVPRESS, 1991) 23.

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Apostasy

The Sensual Seduction and Solicitation of the Modern Church!

Spiritual Seduction is a Reality!

“How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly LUSTS. 19 These be they who separate themselves, SENSUAL, having not the Spirit.” Jude 18-19

Of this passage, one disciple notes:

“The dictionary defines sensuality this way: sen•su•al (sen shu – al) adj.
1. Relating to or affecting any of the senses or a sense organ; sensory.
2. a. Of, relating to, given to, or providing gratification of the physical and especially the sexual appetites.
b. Suggesting sexuality; voluptuous.
c. Physical rather than spiritual or intellectual.
d. Lacking in moral or spiritual interests; worldly.

“The Holy Spirit here warns us concerning the Last Times when people would be Sensual not having the Spirit. These are people who would enter the churches not simply people outside the churches; else we would not need to be warned against them. It is commonly felt that “Sensual” always is synonymous with sexuality; however the context here is with regards to the physical ‘senses’—’Feelings’ and ‘sensations’. We have five senses; Sight, Sound, Touch, Taste and Scent. We are told that we ‘walk by faith’, as opposed to walking ‘by sight’. -2 Corinthians 5:7 ‘For we walk by faith, not by sight’. This is simply a reminder that our lives must not be governed by our feelings, our senses. Back in the sixties one of the philosophies of the world was always, ‘If it feels good, it IS good’. Another question that is often asked is, ‘Is this so wrong if it feels so right?'”

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12

Most of the social media messages tell us, continually remind us that God loves us but nearly none of them inform us that the God who loves us, sent His Son to die on a cross for us, and requires and commands us to be “crucified with Christ.” (Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:29; Colossians 3:3) Beware of the half-truth false gospel of today! We must walk in the original Gospel – all of it – if we are to escape and not be “Led away with the error of the wicked.” (2 Peter 3:17)

False prophets will speak about seeking the supposed presence of God yet never preach on the cross, personal holiness, or obedience. Beware.

The only way we can prevent being deceived is by astute study and belief of God’s Word whereby we are able to rightly divide His Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

One saint writes: “Throughout the whole world error and truth travel the same highways, work in the same fields and factories, attend the same churches, fly in the same planes and shop in the same stores. So skilled is error at imitating truth that the two are constantly being mistaken for each other. It takes a sharp eye these days to know which brother is Cain and which is Abel!”

Those who do not submit to God in their daily personal life, calling upon the LORD to circumcise and purify their hearts, will be caught up in and snared by sensuality. They will live by the senses, the flesh, and not the Spirit and be sent by God Himself a “strong delusion” so that they “believe a lie” and are ultimately “damned.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

Some seek the rush of a sensual feeling instead of the reality of the risen Savior – through the cross life!

Jumping around to the music in a so-called “church building” doesn’t mean you have real relationship and spiritual life with Christ!

“I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” Revelation 3:1

HAVE you noticed how these new lightweight “churches” brag about their “Top 10 Core Values”? What a joke! In other words they pick out 10 socially acceptable things most people will like and that’s their top 10. And they do this instead of simply announcing that they endeavor to adhere to the whole of the Bible. KJB. Lame.

The primary way God leads His NEW Testament church is by the Holy Scriptures and not self-appointed false prophets and false apostles (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalms 119:105; 2 Peter 1:19-21, etc.).

Those who pretend to be today’s prophets aren’t grounded in the written Word! RUN!

Scripture often warns us of those who would seduce us away from Christ – just as an adulterous woman seeks to seduce a husband away from his wife!

“For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” Mark 13:22

“These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.” 1 John 2:26

“Not Withstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” Revelation 2:20

“And this I say (here’s the reason I write you!), lest any man should beguile you with enticing words … As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 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. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2:4, 8-10

“Church” attendance was never ordained by God to displace, to replace the personal study of His Word. Church membership endears the people, the prey, to the organization and it’s leaders and members and not to the LORD Himself. This has displaced the individual priesthood and fellowship God ordained for each and every individual believer. Lots of people replace personally diligently seeking the LORD with going to “church.” They either merely dabble with or don’t even personally study God’s Word for themselves and yet are members in good standing at these local entertainment centers many call “church.” The pastors have sold them on this lifestyle by promoting and emphasizing church membership and not discipleship.

Seminaries are wolf factories. The protestant seminaries were infiltrated by the vatican jesuits decades ago and are now marketing schools producing greedy wolves who set up church busine$$ to market the gospel – which is the meaning of taking the name of the LORD in vain! (Exodus 20:7). Satan’s Seminaries Exposed!

“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7

To take the name of the LORD in vain is to use His name for any other purpose except true, honest worship of Him! Those who use the name of Jesus to make dishonest gain by exploiting people for their own self-serving purposes, are not guiltless before a holy God!

Many Seek the Presence and not the Person, the Face of Jesus Christ!

If you name the name of Christ, this writer, this disciple would encourage you to honestly search out this whole “seeking the presence” cult. Contemplative prayer and spiritual formation are a cheap counterfeit for a real walk with God. They substitute a real walk with Jesus wherein He commands us to seek and obey HIM, not merely His presence. When we do seek HIM and obey Him, He promises to manifest Himself to those who obey His Word (John 14:21-23).

Perhaps those who seek the presence of God and not the face of God, are simply looking for some kind of feeling. They have not truly repented and are self-willed and living out of a self-serving agenda.

God plainly told us that he will only give His presence to those who know, seek, and obey Him – and not those who merely seek His presence (John 14:21- 23).

Those who seek His HAND instead of His FACE are completely self-serving, cross-less idolaters!

“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his FACE continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11

WE seek the PERSON of Christ and not merely the PRESENCE of Him. Beware of this deception saints. When we seek the FACE of the LORD, He will fill us with His Spirit and make His abode in and with us. Our part is to worship and obey Him and not to merely seek His presence. Many who are not seeking to know the LORD seek a feeling instead of seeking the face of the LORD! Beware of this idolatrous spiritual adultery. These same people are not studying and grounded in the Word or the cross of Christ.

Let’s look at who Jesus says truly loves Him:

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. … 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:21, 23

In this passage above, Jesus teaches us that His presence, He and His Father, abide in the lives of those who are His (born again) and presently obeying Him.

Those who love Jesus seek His Word and obey Him. These true disciples, God manifests Himself to. These are those He chooses to make His abode with and not those who simply seek to exploit the LORD for a feeling they call His presence. Beware!

Many today seek a feeling, a sensation and not the Savior! They’ve allowed the false leaders of today to mislead them.

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away … Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:5,7

Those not submitted to the authority, the power of God which is Christ, have only a mere “form of godliness.” As was specifically foretold, today we see the fulfillment of Paul’s warning where we have so many with a mere “form of godliness.” In their daily lives they deny, reject “the power” or the authority of Jesus to reign. When Jesus reigns in a life, His cross is central to that person’s life. They are grounded in the cross – the crucified life – without exception.

Yet today we see some who never grow after being saved because false ministries have intercepted them from the LORD. Those false prophet ministries emphasize any and everything except Jesus Christ!

The vast majority of today’s pastors are sensually soliciting their prey to worship at the altar of self and not soundly grounding their audience in the cross and sound doctrine which is God’s written Word!

So many run to pack themselves in with the herd, to get turned on in what is supposed to be praise and worship. Some of it is a hollow sound and mere lip service.

“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” Matthew 15:8

The hoards consist of the same souls who do not daily, diligently seek the LORD in His Word and a set apart life of prayer (Matthew 6:6; 2 Timothy 2:15). They do not live a crucified life! (Luke 9:23-24; Galatians 2:20, 24, etc.) They are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” because they are not being grounded in the Word of God.

The powder puff pansies use fake news “bibles” instead of the KING JAMES BIBLE.

Any leader not getting you into God’s Word for yourself, is absolutely a wolf! Run!

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

The Witchcraft of the Modern Church!

There is no instance in the 27 books of the New Testament canon where God’s people gathered to be entertained and enamored in what the modern church falsely claims to be praise and worship.

Those false ministries who stage these events are appealing to your natural senses, your emotions. They are on a marketing journey – to sell their prey into a community and not to root them in Christ!

Proof? Name 5 people you know who attend such false churches who can quote just 5 Bible verses they’ve memorized. Case closed!

Seeking and Knowing the LORD Himself!

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” Philippians 3:10

Jesus told us that the chief purpose that He came is that we might know Him and the Father. Such a cardinal, central Gospel truth is never heard in modern apostate churches today!

“And this is life eternal (the whole divine reason for it), that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3

The cross reveals your sin, and God’s love, not how wonderful you are! Repent!

Beware of this “knowing the Tangible Presence” idea. Spiritual formation and contemplative prayer is heresy! These heretical systems are rooted in the occult and perpetrated by “many false prophets” which Jesus specifically warns us “shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:11). Christ’s true disciples today live BY FAITH not feelings (2 Corinthians 5:7). True followers of Jesus live by the Word of God and not by their senses, their feelings (Psalms 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Yet, many today are being led to conjure up a feeling, not realizing they are summoning up evil spirits that pose as the Holy Spirit of God – another Jesus, another gospel, another spirit (2 Corinthians 11:2-4, 11-15). Those who seek an experience instead of seeking the face of the LORD, will be misled by evil spirits and false prophets (1 Chronicles 16:11). Many today are sensual and not truly spiritual in the biblical sense. There is no cross at the center of their lives (Colossians 3:3). Their daily life is not rooted in Christ – the cross! They have been led by the self-serving wolves of today’s modern church to get addicted to a feeling instead of growing in grace and obeying the LORD and Savior Himself. Self-idolatry. They love to go do what some falsely call “praise and worship” to get that feeling. Praise and worship are biblical and yet, not what many have made it out to be. There are many houses of worship if you will, which do not have Christ, the cross, at the center and therefore are not worshiping the LORD by teaching the pure, sound doctrine of the Word of God – the King James Bible. These ravenous wolves know how the church busine$$ works and so they front with a good band, good music, using young, gifted people as their pawns as they stage their deceptive exploitation, hiding behind that good music! Beware saints.

Wolves entertain goats and market their church busine$$ to grow, to gain nickels, noses, and numbers. True under-shepherds ground God’s people in the daily cross, in the fear of God, and in the sound doctrine which is the written Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17; 4:2-4; 2 Peter 1:19-21, etc.).

This is a big part of the end time deception we were often warned of….

“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

Have you ever been part of this type “church”? I sure have. Think about it. If you’re like myself, you enjoyed the praise and worship (to some degree) and yet, were left empty due to the lame “word” and lack of biblical teaching. Can anyone relate?

In any given town in America, one can search high and low, near and far, and never find even one pastor who is true to God. Is this not a fulfillment of prophecy?

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:” Amos 8:11

“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 4:2-4

If you still believe that most pastors today are true, stay deeply in God’s Word daily and your discernment will change. You will begin to realize that over 90% of today’s pastors are “accursed” wolves and we know this because they do not preach the original Gospel that Christ and His holy apostles preached and gave us (Jude 3).

Modern church false gospel …. No repentance, no sin, No judgment, no holiness, no cross, No warnings to beware of false prophets and heresies, no return of Christ for a spotless – sinless – bride, no Christology (study of Christ!) …

Those who preach any other gospel other than the original and complete Gospel of Jesus Christ, are “accursed.”

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9

Then Paul reveals why false leaders do not preach the original, the real and whole Gospel of Christ – because they love self and therefore fear and cater to mere men and not Jesus Christ!

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10

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Glamorizing the Gospel

The global invasion of a priesthood of beguilers have put a modern face on historical heresies. Men and women posing as pastors, prophets, evangelists, and apostles make millions preying on the biblically-illiterate, sick, poor, and emotionally fragile. Behind a veil of glamour, many self-proclaimed pastors mask their spiritual abuse with claims of special position and power from the Holy Spirit. The Original Gospel pulls back the curtain to reveal the truth behind this lucrative industry. “For we are not as many, which corrupt (pervert, twist, misuse) the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the […]

Brother Lawrence and Practicing the Presence of God is 100% WITCHCRAFT

First off, Brother Lawrence was a catholic, a catholic monk. Case closed. That alone tells us he was given over to idols and un-regenerate, trying in vain to earn his own way to God. That’s why he used the words “practicing” as if by his own hard work of repetition in prayer, mantras, and meditations, he, a mere sinner, was meriting the blessings of God. CHRIST is no where to be found in the practice of asceticism! Asceticism is actually the denial of Christ and His perfect sacrifice. More on that in a moment. “What say I then? that the […]

Abiding

WHY were 24,000 of God’s People Killed at Peor? [podcast]

“Baal was most often portrayed as a strong warrior and was considered the god of storms and fertility. He was said to rule from his palace atop Mount Zaphon, the highest peak in Syria. Baal is referenced several times in the Bible’s Old Testament, where he is depicted as the main rival of the god of the Israelites.”

We must understand that God is severe in His judgment of rebels of which there are “many” who claim they are saved. Eternal damnation awaits all rebels (Matthew 7:13-23, etc.).

“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Romans 11:22

DIVINE JUDGMENT, the “severity of God,” IS NOT GOING AWAY JUST BECAUSE YOU OR SOME FAKE PREACHER IGNORES IT!

Christians avoid doing as did the Israelites when they worshipped baal by worshipping the LORD, the Father and Jesus Christ “in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 John 1:3) This begins with fresh and complete repentance, confession of all sin, and denouncing of all dependence, idolatry, all pagan practices like yoga and mantra chanting, etc., and by understanding that truly worshiping the LORD, the one true God, is based on sincere loyalty to Him and not to get things from Him like success or possession in this fleeting world. The heart of the disciple of Jesus must be circumcised perpetually and this is happening as we examine our hearts for idols, the daily crucified life, living a life of prayer, setting boundaries against temptations, and being wholly accountable to the LORD, while avoiding syncretism (mixing pagan rituals with Christian practice) and prioritizing God’s Word.

Deuteronomy 4:1-10

24,000 of God’s own people, men, departed from obeying the instruction, the standard, the Word of God and were destroyed. They partook in the soul damning sin of fornication.

“Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. 2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you. 4 But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day. 5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. 6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? 8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? 9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; 10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.” Deuteronomy 4:1-10

Departing from the pure Word of God always leads to sinful living as was the case with 24,000 of God’s people’s worship at Baal Peor.

“And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Luke 4:4

In Deuteronomy 4, Moses warns God’s people not to change or depart from the LORD’s Word and brings up the example, reminds the people of God’s judgment upon 24,000 of His own people for doing so (Numbers 25).

Of the worship of Baal-Peor, one writer notes:

“Yet what was this worship of Baal-Peor and why did it draw such wrath from God? Baal-Peor is a Moabite god who was worshipped with obscene rituals. The name means ‘Lord of the Opening’ from Baal meaning owner/ husband and Peor coming from pa’ar meaning ‘open wide.’ ‘I found Israel Like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers As the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal Peor, And separated themselves to that shame; They became an abomination like the thing they loved.’ (Hosea 9:10) The worship of Baal-Peor IS an abomination. Notice that those who join themselves to Baal-Peor also ‘become’ an abomination before the Lord.”

Every person who has an idol, just one, has demons (Deuteronomy 32:17; 1 Corinthians 10:19-21). Repent now. Follow Jesus.

In Deuteronomy 4:3, Moses brings back to the memory of God’s people the judgment that fell upon the 24,000 of His own people for their idolatry and fornication. This idolatrous abomination is recorded in Numbers 25.

“And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 7 And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; 8 And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. 9 And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.” Numbers 25:6-9

Dear reader, camp out on Numbers 25, the whole chapter. Your life is not complete without this vital component of divine truth.

Of Baal, one source notes:

Baal was a major ancient West Semitic storm and fertility god, meaning “lord” or “master,” prominent in Canaanite and Phoenician cultures, associated with rain, thunder, and agriculture, and often depicted with a thunderbolt. He was seen as a powerful deity, central to life, but became a focal point of biblical opposition as Israel’s worship of him (linked to lust and sometimes child sacrifice) was seen as idolatry against God, culminating in Elijah’s famous challenge on Mount Carmel. In later demonology, Baal (or Bael) is a powerful archdemon, and the name appears in various modern media as a demon or powerful entity.

In Ancient Religions

Identity: A powerful god of fertility, weather (rain, lightning, wind), war, and kingship, often identified with the storm god Hadad.
Worship: Widespread in the Levant (Canaan, Phoenicia) and beyond, with temples and rituals often involving cultic prostitution and sometimes human sacrifice, especially during droughts.
Mythology: Key myths involve his battles with the sea god Yamm and the god of death Mot, representing natural cycles, and his dwelling on Mount Zaphon.
Biblical Conflict: The Bible portrays Baal worship as a major temptation for Israelites, a rival to God, whose priests (including those of the Phoenician goddess Asherah/Astarte) were famously confronted by Elijah.

In Demonology & Culture

Demon: In demonology, Bael (Baal) is a powerful archdemon, often the first of the three kings of Hell in grimoires, associated with invisibility and wisdom.
Modern Media: The name appears in many forms, from Diablo and Dungeons & Dragons (Bhaal/Bael) to anime like Gundam and Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, often as a powerful demon or god.”

Not one of us has lived perfectly holy and yet, at this moment in time, some will choose to truly repent and confess their sins and others will refuse (Proverbs 28:13). Eternity depends on true repentance which always, without fail, yields a changed life, a holy life (Matthew 3:7-10; Luke 13:3).

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

These 24,000 Israelites were slain for their sin. God is still holy and “The wages of sin” is still death (Romans 6:23; Ezekiel 18:4).

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4

Zimri, a Simeonite (of the tribe of Simeon) was the Israelite whom Phinehas, grandson of Aaron, did slay for his utterly audacious display of sin, having brought the fornication in the middle of the camp of God’s people and even into the midst of their worship (Numbers 25:6, 14).

The great apostle brings this very incident to account 1 Corinthians 10:1-12 and warns New Testament saints never to partake lest they also be destroyed. The sins Paul cites form the natural acronym L.I.F.T.M. = lust, idolatry, fornication, tempting Christ, murmuring.

5 Soul Damning Sins Named! Learning from History! [podcast]

The spear of Phinehas must begin with ourselves – as we truly repent, lay down our lives in this world, and cut off the hand, pluck out the eye of any sin in our lives. The conscious eternal suffering, the severity of eternal judgment coming on any person who dies in sin is most profoundly declared by the Son of God Mark 9:43-49. Many of the new fake “bibles” removed this important passage.

The new “bibles” have lowered the standard and weakened many by their changing of God’s Word which Moses specifically warns us of in this main text, Deuteronomy 4.

“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19

Departing from the Word of God, not obeying God on His stated terms, is the sure way to be weakened, destroyed, here and eternally. The LORD speaks often in His Word about this.

“Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:” Jeremiah 26:2

Each Man is Choosing to Drink from One Cup or the Other

Baal was ultimately Satan himself and involved things like sacrificing ones own child in exchange for being blessed by this false good. Jesus informed us that Satan has come “to steal, to kill, and to destroy.” (John 10:10).

As was the case at Baal Peor, Satan is behind every idol and so all idolatry is the worship of Satan.

“What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?” 1 Corinthians 10:19-22

This passage above is speaking of the Baal Peor event and also to the temptation of Satan and his children today. Baal worship is alive and well today, calling God’s people to worship at the altar of devils, to partake is vile atrocities that separate one to Satan and away from the LORD. “No man can serve two masters” and anyone living in sin is not serving the one, true, holy LORD and Savior (Matthew 6:24)

“They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead. 29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them. 30 Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed. 31 And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.” Psalms 106:28-31

One writer notes:

“Baal Peor, or the Baal of Peor, was a local deity worshiped by the Moabites. When the Israelites, following Moses to the Promised Land, were in the vicinity of Peor, some of them fell into idolatry and worshiped Baal Peor. As a result of their sin, the men of Israel were judged by God.”

Baal Peor consisted of the worship of a false god, Satan, and fornication. Satan is behind the worship of all idols and such idolatry is filled with his devils/demons (1 Corinthians 10:19-22).

Modern day types of Baal Peor are the pornography, strip clubs, and everything in our society that has to do with any form of fornication. Movie and media are filled with such evil. The 24,000 who were destroyed in Moses day (Numbers 25), departed from the Word of God and the standards set forth there for holiness and the divine prohibition of sex outside of marriage between one man and one woman (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8). Read Deuteronomy 4 and Numbers 25 side by side.

“Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Before their blunder at Peor, after God brought them out of Egypt (the world), Israel was innocent. Judgment, destruction ensued their sin of all who participated. Today, we can witness that many who once worshipped God with a pure heart, have now turned away to the worship of idols involving fornication of all kinds. Those who would rebuke these backsliders could be liked unto Phinehas.

“I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.” Hosea 9:10

“I found Israel – The Lord speaks of himself in the person of a traveler, who unexpectedly in the wilderness finds a vine loaded with grapes; such love did God bear to Israel. Your fathers – Whom I brought out of Egypt. As the first – ripe – As the earliest ripe fruit of the fig – tree, which is most valued and desired. Separated themselves – Consecrated themselves to that shameful idol. Their abominations – Their idols, and way of worshipping them. As they loved – As they fancied.” John Wesley

Deuteronomy 4, Numbers 25, and 1 Corinthians 10 speak of the same event – the sin of God’s people in Baal worship at Peor and the consequent divine judgment that fell upon 24,000 of them. This is an eternal memorial for the judgment of God against all sin, namely idolatry and fornication.

“To abstain from idol feasts was the clear duty of all Christians. By partaking of heathen sacrifices which were offered to demons, they became one with the demons and their votaries; just as in the Lord’s Supper we show our oneness not only with the Savior but with each other. It was clear, therefore, that the Corinthian Christians could not consistently partake of idol feasts and the Lord’s Supper. What an incentive is given here to frequent and reverent participation in the Lord’s Supper! It proclaims our union with Him and His people, and it gives us a distaste for all that is alien to its spirit.” FB Meyer

Those who depart from the standards set forth in God’s Word separate themselves to idols, to devils and are under divine judgment from the unchanging God (Malachi 3:6).

The Examples of Phinehas and Jael

Perhaps we can liken what Phinehas did in spearing the sin out of the camp of God’s people, with those who call His people to worship Him in Spirit and in truth and according to His pure, uncorrupted Word (Numbers 25:10-18; Psalms 12:6-7; Proverbs 30:5-6; Revelation 22:18-19). Phinehas boldly, courageously in the fear of God stood up and stamped out sin in the camp. The judgment ended. Those who stand and boldly, fearlessly declared the Word of God and call out sin among God’s people, are the Phinehas’ of our day. Do we have a Phinehas priesthood in our midst?

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

In Job 4:21-22; 5:24-27 we read about another bless-ed patriarch of the faith who stood up, who rose up against sin, slaying a wicked king.

In both the cases of Phinehas and Jael, these biblical accounts make specific record that the LORD greatly blessed these faithful followers of His, and their families, and He will do the same today for His true bold witnesses who stand against the evil of this late hour.

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The 5 Sins That Keep God’s People Out of Their Promised Land [podcast]

Learning from History! (below) THE 5 SINS THAT KEPT ISRAEL (God’s own covenant people) OUT OF THEIR PROMISED LAND OF BLESSINGS and will keep us out if not relinquished. Friend, please read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 with all your might. Make this text your meat. The world seeks to romance sin but if God says it’s sin, that’s what it is. Toning down the terms changes nothing. Judgment Day is on the way. We are fighting the good fight of faith, “striving against sin” and “more than conquerors” over sin through Jesus who loves us and bought us with His own […]

The Lure of Adultery

BOMBARDED WITH IMAGES, ENTICEMENTS, AND ADVERTISEMENTS FOR ADULTERY! Marriage is Sacred in the Eyes of a Holy God The joy of sex has context. When removed from that context, great danger occurs. Context. Context. Context! To have sex outside of the context in which our Maker requires it to be, is like a man who tries to row a boat on dry land. He’s going no where. And those doing ANY kind of sex outside of the marriage between 1 man and 1 woman are going nowhere except eternal hell. Repent now and follow Jesus before it’s too late. Sex […]

The Curse of Spiritual Adultery [podcast]

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4 Simply put, whether physical or imagined (imaged, conjured up in one’s mind) an idol is the figment, the God-less object of one’s sinful, corrupted, defiled, unrepentant, and demented heart and therefore […]

Apostasy

The Result of Real Repentance [podcast]

**“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**

WE DON’T NEED JUST ANOTHER “CHURCH SERVICE” OR “SERMON,” WE NEED TO REPENT AND WHEN WE REALLY DO, WE WILL OBEY GOD—OTHERWISE WE DIDN’T TRULY REPENT.

“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 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 3:1-12

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5

When we repent – re-turn to God: Do we want to see who has truly repented, beginning with the examining of ourselves?

We will be washed afresh from our sins and have “times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)
We will forsake our lives in this fleeting world, deny self, take up the cross daily and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23-24; 14:33; 17:33).
We will live holy “in this present world.” (Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 1:15-16)
We will be about our “Father’s business” and not our own – the Great Commission He gave us (Luke 2:49; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20).

Forsaking All?

What does that mean?

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33

One must be willing and obedient to put aside religion and familial bonds to follow Christ, or he will not and “cannot be my disciple” says the LORD. Non-negotiable. If Jesus Christ is not first place, first priority of your life, you are a hell bound counterfeit who shall suffer the flames of eternal justice, damnation (Mark 9:43-49).

Jesus says:

“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:37

Repent. Turn wholly to the LORD, putting all of your trust in the LORD your God, who “is a jealous God.” Jesus Christ is the name of the only LORD and Savior!

“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:” Exodus 34:14

Jesus says He will “spue,” vomit, reject anyone who dies without Him being their very “first love” their “first” priority—and talk is cheap (Revelation 2:4-5; 3:15-16).

“Psalm 51 is our perfect model of repentance and restoration in the Lord! God forgave the beloved David because of his honest prayer of repentance and restored to him the joy of his salvation!” Karen Cochran

Times of Refreshing from the Presence of the LORD – Fresh Start with God

Spanish Content on SafeGuardYourSoul

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Fake Jesus, Fake Pastors, Fake Christians, Fake Bibles, Fake Churches Exposed! [podcast]

TODAY’s apostate preachers created a counterfeit generation of false converts, entitled, self-serving counterfeits. There is no fruit proving they are truly born again. Their “christianity” consists of “church” attendance at a cross-less fake church that uses a fake “bible”, preaches a fake “Jesus”, and has a fake “pastor.” Beware. This was specifically foretold (2 Timothy 3:1-13; 4:1-5). The true disciple of Jesus will listen only to men who fear God and not you/them (2 Samuel 23:3; Matthew 10:28; Galatians 1:10) – and therefore they forcefully declare the whole of His truth straight up into your face! Repent or perish, sinner! […]

How to Spot a Fake Bible [podcast]

Please don’t balk till you read these 3 verses. This is indefensible to the sane mind! “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” (Proverbs 18:13) In 2016 the Berean Study Bible (BSB) was introduced. Sounds good, right? Not! There are 3 verses we use to acid test “bibles”: Matthew 17:21; Romans 8:1; and Colossians 1:14 As usual, this BSB was taken from the known corrupted manuscripts instead of the Textus Receptus from which the KJB comes from. In the BSB, typically, we find: Matthew 17:21 was removed, Romans 8:1 was chopped in […]

How to Spot a False Leader [podcast]

Refusing to sit under the false gospel, false doctrines, false teachers, and wolves is not forsaking the assembling of the saints. It’s obedience to the LORD! (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) There is a “difference” between the true and the false leaders today. True disciples will always warn and help God’s people distinguish the false teachers and “discern between the unclean and the clean.”: “And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23 False leaders are to be marked, to be scoped out and labeled […]